NFL Bans Jersey Swaps, Postgame Interactions Within 6 Feet Amid COVID-19
The NFL reportedly continued to provide coronavirus-related guidance for teams and players in a memo Wednesday night detailing game-day protocols for the 2020 season.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network provided details from the memo, which included a ban on jersey exchanges and other on-field postgame interactions:
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
Tom Pelissero@TomPelissero
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
In addition, coaches and players won’t be required to wear masks on the sideline, but other team personnel on the field for the game must wear protective face coverings, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The pre-game screening will be important: Anyone with bench access will be screened before entering the stadium. Anyone who records a temperature at or above 100.4 degrees or may have been exposed "shall not be permitted to enter the Stadium on game day."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 9, 2020
Trading jerseys with a member of the opposing team and the handshake between the two head coaches after the final whistle are two hallmarks of NFL games, and neither will exist in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The jersey swaps have risen in popularity over the years, perhaps picking up on a longstanding trend in the soccer world, but they come at a cost.
In December, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported each uniform top given away costs $500:
It’s not a groundbreaking amount for players earning an NFL salary, but it’s enough to make an impact over the course of a typical four-game preseason, 16-game regular season and playoff run.
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz said he’s building a collection for his post-playing days.
“I got a lot of jerseys,” Ertz told Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer in December 2018. “When I’m done playing, [I’m going to] have a little man-cave with [framed jerseys from] all the guys I played against, all the guys I really respected.”
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, who displayed his own collection of jerseys on Instagram in 2017, questioned whether it makes sense to play against an opponent for three hours but then be banned from a postgame talk and trade.
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
Meanwhile, the NFL moved forward with the offseason in a mostly virtual format and has so far remained firm on plans to open training camp July 28 despite a recent surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans are scheduled to open the regular season Sept. 10.
