Urban Meyer told reporters Tuesday that multiple assistants received their shots following last week's warning. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Some Jaguars assistants received COVID-19 vaccine shots to avoid losing Tier 1 status

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/8/21

The NFL and NFL Players Association aren't forcing players to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots to participate in organized team activities, mandatory minicamps, training camps, exhibition games or the regular season. However, reports surfaced last Friday that assistant coaches from at least four teams could lose their Tier 1 status because they hadn't yet been vaccinated. Assistants who aren't vaccinated by the end of this week could be prohibited from having any face-to-face contact with players and kept off of practice fields and out of meeting rooms.

According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer told reporters Tuesday that multiple assistants received their shots following last week's warning. Mia O'Brien of First Coast News added:

Urban Meyer says once the new #NFL memo came out, several of the coaches then went and got vaccinated. Takes a few weeks to be considered "fully vaccinated."

Not sure what exact tally will be, but "we'll adapt" to whatever final numbers are.
— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) June 8, 2021

Commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear ahead of Memorial Day that essential staff members who have direct contact with players were to be vaccinated as soon as possible, if they weren't already, unless they were given an exemption due to medical or religious reasons. Those granted exemptions will work under stricter health and safety protocols:

Here’s a breakdown from last week’s memo of the new restrictions that go into effect Monday. The league has made clear it does not expect to roll back these restrictions at any point during the 2021 season, even for those granted an exemption. pic.twitter.com/VArIvbn3zC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 4, 2021

On Monday, the Buffalo Bills confirmed they're holding training camp at their team facility rather than at St. John Fisher College in Rochester "due to the complexities of the NFL's current COVID-19 health protocols in place."

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