NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

MEMORANDUM

To: Chief Executives

Club Presidents
General Managers
Head Coaches
Head Team Physicians
Head Athletic Trainers
Club Infection Control Officers
Club Counsel

From: NFL Management Council

Football Operations
Player Health & Safety

Date: November 3, 2020

Subject: COVID-19 Protocol Updates: Risk Mitigation

This memo sets forth enhancements to the Protocols and outlines additional best practices
related to: (i) physical distancing and mask-wearing; (ii) expansion of the sideline Bench Area
footprint on game day; (iii) requirements for pre- and post-game interactions among players and staff
from opposing clubs, and (iv) updates to the Intensive Protocol.

COVID testing results reported on Monday revealed that two clubs that played on Sunday
each had one player test positive for COVID-19. Those results were based on game day specimen
collections. The resulting contact tracing showed that one club had numerous game day close
contacts, six (6) of which were subsequently designated by our medical experts as “High Risk Close
Contacts.” As a result of that designation, the Protocol requires that all six (6) be isolated for a
minimum of five (5) days due to that game day exposure. Contact tracing for the second club resulted
in only one (1) player being designated a “High Risk Close Contact” and therefore must be isolated
for a minimum of five (5) days. Although players on neither club wore masks while on the sideline
or in the locker room, the second club was more effective in ensuring physical distancing for its
players on the sideline and in the locker room. We also note that, in both of these examples,
additional players and staff members were designated as “High Risk Close Contacts” as a result of
unmasked social interactions outside of the facility. In all of these circumstances, our medical experts
have concluded that if masks were worn by players in both examples, the number of individuals that
would have been designated as “High Risk Close Contacts” would have been significantly reduced.

As we advised on Friday and as this weekend’s positive tests demonstrate, wearing masks or
other approved face coverings at all times while not actively engaged in the game is an important and
significant mitigation tool. We continue to strongly recommend that all active players not
participating on the field or about to enter the game wear masks or double-layered gaiters on the
sideline. All players and staff must wear masks or double-layered gaiters in the locker room on game
 November 3, 2020

day—prior to the game, during halftime, and post-game. Wearing a mask or approved face covering
may be the difference between an individual being designated a “High Risk Close Contact” or not.
As a reminder, the home club must provide at least 250 disposable surgical masks on each of the
home and visiting team sidelines.

Practicing physical distancing is also crucial in preventing players and staff from being
designated as High-Risk Close Contacts with infected individuals. In order to facilitate greater
physical distancing on the sidelines, we will now require clubs to expand the Bench Area footprints
on both sidelines. Each club will be required to expand its “Bench Area” to the 20-yard lines.
Individuals utilizing game day/sideline technology must remain between the 30-yard lines. NFL
Football Operations will distribute a memo detailing procedures and policies that will govern the
expansion of the Bench Area later today. Clubs are encouraged to reconfigure benches and/or add
additional benches to further facilitate physical distancing, provided that all benches remain a
minimum of 30 feet from the playing field and within the expanded Bench Area footprint. Chairs
(rather than benches) will not be permitted, as they may contribute to further clustering of players and
staff on the sideline.

In addition, pre- and post-game social interactions between clubs present additional
unnecessary risk of transmission. These contacts, which typically involve individuals facing each
other in close proximity while having conversations, present a greater risk of viral transmission than
do most plays on the field. As a result, and as set forth in the Game Day Protocol, we strongly
recommend that clubs avoid these interactions altogether. However, if clubs permit such interactions,
all players (including those participating in the last play of the game) and club staff must wear masks
or double-layered gaiters during any such encounter—no matter how brief—to mitigate risk of
transmission. Clubs that fail to enforce the requirement that players and staff wear an approved face
covering during such encounters will be subject to accountability measures.

Finally, an enhanced Intensive Protocol is attached. This updated Intensive Protocol applies
the prohibition on in-person meetings to coaches and other personnel meetings. Pursuant to the
Intensive Protocol, clubs must seek an exemption from Dr. Sills to hold in-person meetings whether
or not they involve players.

As always, please reach out to any member of the Football Operations, Management Council
or Health and Safety staff with any questions. We appreciate your continued efforts and dedication
to safely completing the 2020 season.