In recent times fans have grown accustomed to seeing our favorite players greet each other after games and some even participate in the tradition of swapping jerseys. This is something we’ve seen Jacksonville Jaguars notables like Leonard Fournette, Dede Westbrook, and Gardner Minshew II take part in as they switch jerseys with former college teammates or old friends in general.
Unfortunately, that will be a postgame tradition that the league will be forbidding in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, players also will be forbidden from having postgame interactions within six feet of each other, too.
NFL teams will be forbidden from postgame interactions within 6 feet of each other and jersey exchanges between players will be prohibited during the 2020 season, sources say.
Another way the NFL will look different in the COVID-19 world.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 9, 2020
As pointed out by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, this protocol is one most fans feel is puzzling when considering the players will be in contact with each other during the game. Then again, it wouldn’t be the first puzzling decision made by the league.
This is a perfect example of NFL thinking in a nutshell. Players can go engage in a full contact game and do it safely. However, it is deemed unsafe for them to exchange jerseys after said game. 😂🤣😂 https://t.co/fWefsUSVDc
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) July 9, 2020
Eliminating postgame interaction is just one of many protocols that were brought to the light Thursday. It was also reported that the media will be banned from the locker rooms while on-the-field fan seating will be prohibited. Additionally, team travels to the stadium will only be allowed via bus.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport also added a report to the protocols which Pelissero revealed, stating that everyone will have to wear masks on the sidelines aside from coaches.
The ban on postgame jersey exchanges was included in NFL-NFLPA game-day protocols that clubs received last night. Other notable changes for 2020:
– On-field fan seating is prohibited.
– Both teams must travel to the stadium via bus.
– Media will be banned from the locker room. https://t.co/WizWrySFvU
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 9, 2020
Other game day protocols: Coaches and players won’t be required to wear masks on the sidelines. Everyone else in the bench does have to wear a mask. https://t.co/ovKPcCwaD9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 9, 2020
Right now it appears the NFLÂ could allow state officials to decide on the number of fans who can attend games during the 2020 season. For the state of Florida, it’s hard to say what officials will do as they recently saw a record spike in their seven-day average for positive coronavirus cases (18.4%).
According to the daily coronavirus updates from the Florida Times-Union, 120 new deaths from COVID-19 were listed while nearly 9,000 new cases were reported. That put Florida’s cumulative total at 232,718 reported cases, only under New York (399,513) and California (292,926), respectively.