The 2020 NFL draft has passed, which generally means it’s time to look forward to the season. However, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has left many people questioning if the season will get postponed. The regular season is set to open Sept. 10, but it’s uncertain if the pandemic will die down by then.
According to league spokesman Brian McCarthy, the NFL is set to release its 2020 schedule next week without any significant changes, adding, “[w]e plan to start on time.”
For the past two months, all team facilities have been shut down in order to try to curb the outbreak of the virus. However, the league is currently evaluating when they can open back up. If team facilities don’t open up by June, teams are prepared to conduct offseason workouts and minicamps virtually.
There have also been discussions on whether the NFL plans to play on a neutral site; however, they aren’t planning to do that. According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, it’s believed that the stadiums will be open to fans, with a strong preference for open stadiums from Week 1.
Nevertheless, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has done a great job of handling this ongoing pandemic. He will not accept a salary for its duration and has called for pay cuts in league offices based on salary. Goodell said in a memo, obtained by CNBC:
“It is clear that the economic effects will be deeper and longer lasting than anyone anticipated and that their duration remains uncertain … The downturn has affected all of us, as well as our fans, our business partners, and our clubs,”
During the NFL Draft, the league raised more than $100 million for coronavirus relief.
