A former Jets assistant coach lost his job on Friday after refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Vikings fired offensive line coach Rick Dennison for choosing not to take the COVID-19 vaccine, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Dennison served as the Jets offensive line coach and run game coordinator under Todd Bowles in 2018.
All Tier-1 coaches, front office executives and other staff members are required to be vaccinated against the virus, according to the NFL’s COVID-19 policies, unless they have a valid religious or medical reason. If they aren’t vaccinated, they lose that status and won’t be allowed direct access to players – including on the field and in meeting rooms.
Dennison didn’t have an approved exemption, according to a statement released by the Vikings, but the team said it will “continue to hold discussions” with the coach.
Players are not required to be vaccinated, but the NFL released new protocols which incentivize players to get the shot. Players and teams could also forfeit games and game checks if an outbreak occurs among the unvaccinated. It’s become a contentious point among some members of the league, and a few players have already voiced their opinions on Twitter.