The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a virtual offseason format for players to train while team facilities are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Workout programs will be run via online platforms and videoconferencing.
According to a memo the NFL sent to its 32 clubs that was obtained by the Associated Press, the first phase of the virtual offseason will begin April 20 for teams with new head coaches and April 27 for all other teams, and will last through May 15. Teams can host virtual classroom instruction, online workouts, and non-football educational programs. Clubs are not required to participate in the virtual period, but cannot save the time to be used once they are back together.
Players who choose to participate in the online drills must be paid the daily minimum wage of $235, and players whose contracts include offseason workout bonuses will be compensated for joining virtual sessions. Rookie players will be paid a minimum of $135 for each day they participate in a club’s online development session.
NFL teams can provide workout equipment and wearable devices worth up to $1,500 to each player. The second and final phase of the offseason program begins May 18 and runs through June 26. The league will only return to on-field training if all 32 clubs are permitted to open their facilities upon clearance from the NFL, federal, and state regulations. If stay-at-home orders persist, offseason programs will continue in a virtual manner.
According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, if team facilities do not reopen during the offseason workout program, clubs can conduct mandatory veteran mini camps in a virtual setting. Those sessions would be limited to two hours per day of classroom time and two hours of workout time.
