NFL Coach Sacked After Refusing to Get Vaxed
While the federal government has been unwilling to push any sort of vaccine mandates on the people of this great nation, there are plenty of private corporations who are setting all manner of guidelines for how and when their employees will come back to work. And, naturally, some of these companies are going to want to push a mandatory vaccination program, not only for the sake of keeping the workforce working, but also surely on account of the way that insurance companies are going to begin reacting to bringing employees back together.
In the National Football League, coaches are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and this requirement has now forced at least one team to make a tough decision.
After refusing to receive a vaccine for COVID-19, Rick Dennison is out as a Minnesota Vikings assistant coach, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Advertisement - story continues belowDennison had served as the Vikings’ offensive line coach/run game coordinator the past two seasons. In a statement Friday, the Vikings said they were still in discussions with Dennison on the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
Another coach in the league, New England Patriots co-offensive line coach Cole Popovich, also won’t be with his team in 2021 in a decision related to the COVID-19 vaccine and NFL guidelines, league sources confirmed to ESPN.
The vaccine is required for all Tier 1 staff, including coaches, front-office executives, equipment managers and scouts. Players are not required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but will face strict protocols during training camp and throughout the season that vaccinated players will be able to forgo.
The league will allow for medical or religious exemptions to the policy, however.
Dennison did not qualify for such an exemption, according to the team.