The NFL’s Challenging 101st Season Amid a Pandemic

In just a few weeks, the National Football League (NFL) is expected to begin its 101st season, despite the many challenges that lie ahead. The season, which is set to kick off with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans, will be anything but a typical football campaign. For one, the NFL is planning to start the regular season on time, with rookies reporting to team facilities and veterans following suit shortly after. However, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, everything has to be approached with caution, and nothing is guaranteed.

The NFL has been at the forefront of the sports world’s response to the pandemic, navigating how to keep players, coaches, and other personnel safe while still conducting a full season of football. From altering the structure of training camps to eliminating preseason games and adjusting to new protocols, the league is trying to ensure that the show goes on—albeit with significant changes and under the shadow of the pandemic. There are more questions than answers, but the NFL is determined to push forward.

Training Camps and Roster Adjustments: A New Reality

The NFL is planning a somewhat normal training camp experience, although it will look vastly different from previous years. A major change in this plan is the reduction of roster sizes. Roster sizes, which usually reach 90 players, were reduced to 80 under an agreement between the league and the players’ association. This change reflects a broader trend of streamlining operations for safety reasons and also cutting costs in an uncertain financial environment.

Teams will proceed with the usual training camp routine, but they will be doing so without the traditional preseason games. Preseason games, which typically serve as warm-ups for the regular season, have been canceled entirely. The decision to eliminate these games was a significant one, as they generate revenue and provide players with an opportunity to showcase their skills, especially those on the fringe of making the roster.

For the first time in recent memory, NFL teams will have to rely on intra-squad scrimmages and practice sessions to get prepared for the regular season. This will place even more importance on training camps, team chemistry, and how well teams adapt to the altered preparation timeline.