The NFL is allowing for the gradual reopening of team facilities, but coaches won’t be among those allowed in during the initial stages.
There’s a reason for that. According to Judy Battista of NFL.com, the league is unlikely to allow coaches to return to facilities until all 32 can do so. For now, roughly ten are unable to because their team’s facilities cannot open due to local restrictions.
With NFL facilities starting to reopen tomorrow, I was told over the weekend that the thinking in the league right now is that coaches will not return until all facilities are open. Right now, approximately 10 can not reopen because of local stay-at-home laws.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) May 18, 2020
The explanation is simple. The NFL does not want any team getting an advantage, perceived or real, by having more time with coaches than others. They’re using the same approach with on-field workouts, and that makes sense.
In its latest guidance, the league said that coaches could be allowed to return fairly soon. Ultimately, though, it sounds like it’s not the NFL’s call.
