Lions OT Taylor Decker not getting COVID-19 vaccine

Due to inevitable issues such a mandate would cause among athlete unions, leagues such as the NFL are not requiring players to receive COVID-19 vaccines to participate in seasons. While the NFL and NFL Players Association are both urging personnel to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker told reporters on Tuesday he's already made up his mind. 

"I did not get vaccinated and I’m not going to," Decker said, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "I’m just not going to speak to the reasons why. I have my reasons. I don’t know, that’s such a hot button topic, but me personally, I just don’t feel like it’s the best thing for me so I’m not going to do it." 

Like MLB and the NBA, the NFL has informed clubs that certain coronavirus-related health and safety protocols can be relaxed for teams "that achieve a certain rate of vaccination among its tiered staff." Vaccinated individuals will also be permitted to work and live under loosened restrictions.

Also on Tuesday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that 70 percent of that league's Tier 1 players, managers, coaches, athletic trainers, and other "essential personnel" have received either partial or full vaccinations.