Unvaccinated NFL Players to Be Fined for COVID-19 Violations

Unvaccinated NFL players breaking COVID-19 protocol including mask-wearing could be fined $14,650 per violation.

Unvaccinated NFL players could be fined $14,650 if they violate COVID-19 protocols this season.

The report initially came from a Tampa Bay Times article which stated that Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians would fine unvaccinated players $14,000 every time they were found not wearing a mask or breaking COVID-19 protocol.

This policy was later confirmed by ESPN’s Jenna Laine.

Laine also clarified that it isn’t a team policy but rather a league-wide NFL policy.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy later confirmed this with ESPN.

The news comes after the NFL announced late last week that teams with COVID-19 outbreaks which force a game to be rescheduled or canceled will suffer consequences. If the game cannot be rescheduled within the 18-week regular season, the team with the COVID-19 outbreak will be forced to forfeit the game.

The NFL is continuing to encourage players to get their COVID-19 vaccine.

With that said, I expect policies to change and evolve as the season gets underway, especially with the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.

Currently, Los Angeles County is under a mask-mandate, requiring all people inside or outside to wear masks.

For now, the NFL will be tracking down players who break COVID-19 protocol and they will be fined.

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