NFL commissioner Roger Goodell Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL had 0.08% COVID-19 positivity rate for the season

NFL officials hope to be able to brag after Super Bowl LV concludes on Sunday night that the league is the first top-flight North American sports competition to begin and end a full season on time and without significant interruptions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While multiple NFL teams battled through virus outbreaks, all 17 weeks of the regular season were completed by the end of Jan. 3, and the Super Bowl remained scheduled for Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium. 

As Grant Gordon noted for the league's official website, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said during a Wednesday conference call that the league's COVID-19 positivity rate heading into Super Bowl week was 0.08% for the season. This amounts to 262 cases among NFL Players Association members and 463 among other personnel. 

"We feel that our club facilities truly were some of the safest possible locations," Sills added. 

The NFL enforced strict health and safety guidelines during the fall to limit the risk of outbreaks, and the league also fined both clubs and personnel for violations. By mid-November, the Las Vegas Raiders had been fined over $1 million for repeatedly failing to adhere to protocols. 

Earlier on Wednesday, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said the union has no plan to postpone Super Bowl LV if a star player or multiple big names test positive for the coronavirus through the second half of the week. 

Kansas City Chiefs center Daniel Kilgore and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson are on the reserve/COVID-19 list after being deemed high-risk close contacts but could be cleared to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday if they continue to test negative for the virus. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark sets infamous record in debut
Jalen Brunson leads Knicks to blowout win in Game 5 vs. Pacers
Nikola Jokic torches DPOY to lead Nuggets past Wolves in Game 5
Oilers use late heroics to tie Canucks at two games each
Watch: Astros pitcher ejected after foreign substance check
Kirk Cousins not angry with Falcons because winning is 'hard enough'
Bronny James has surprising comments on potentially teaming up with LeBron
Bills add two-time Super Bowl champ to new-look WR room
Brewers lose team-leading home run hitter to injured list
Sandy Alderson denies involvement in Mets, Billy Eppler IL controversy
Twins reliever shut down for six weeks with patellar tendon tear
Chris Finch throws shade at Nuggets star over Rudy Gobert’s fine
Cardinals head coach warns not to bet against Kyler Murray
Details emerge on Jason Kelce’s role at ESPN
Rangers defenseman wins Mark Messier Leadership Award
Ex-NFL head coach takes over as Arena Football League commish
Yankees young stud takes major step in return from injury
See top groupings for Rounds 1 and 2 at 2024 PGA Championship
Former Bruins winger dead at 75
Super Bowl-winning safety plans to retire after 2024 season