The NFL is doing everything possible to keep everything on schedule. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL spokesperson: League schedule still on as scheduled despite coronavirus

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Apr 29, 2020 3:50 PM ET

The coronavirus pandemic that halted the bulk of the sports world in March hasn't yet stopped the NFL. While the 2020 NFL Draft was a virtual experience with all participants in their homes instead of Las Vegas, it still went on from April 23-25, as scheduled.

As of the final Wednesday of April, the NFL intents to move forward without interruption.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy, who recently cleared Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady over a visit with a coach that maybe shouldn't have happened, tweeted that May 9 remains a big date on the league's calendar:

Should be out by May 9th as we've said. Kickoff slated for Sept. 10 and the 101th season concludes w/ Super Bowl LV in Tampa on Feb. 7, 2021. https://t.co/8YizywybGJ
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) April 29, 2020

Outside of the schedule-release date and the grammatically-cringey "101th," the rest of McCarthy's tweet comes with a massive asterisk.

Because so much remains known about the virus outbreak, nobody can guarantee any NFL games will occur in the United States in August or the fall. Earlier this month, the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed upon a "virtual offseason" while team facilities remain closed to most players.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has informed his players the team will not participate in that program.

Earlier on Wednesday , ESPN confirmed that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell voluntarily reduced his salary to $0, that league executives accepted pay reductions, and that furloughs had been implemented. This suggests the NFL expects to experience revenue losses from games that are played behind closed doors and without fans in attendance or from games that are canceled because of the coronavirus.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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