Several head coaches have been fined $100,000 by the NFL for not wearing face masks on the sidelines, a safety measure required during the COVID-19 pandemic games. The coaches' teams, with $250,000 penalties, were also fined.
The coaches include Pete Carroll of Seattle, Kyle Shanahan of San Francisco, and Vic Fangio of Denver, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
After the NFL finished the second week of games, the penalties were released, all of which were played in stadiums that were either empty of fans or at a drastically reduced capacity due to fears about the potential spread of the coronavirus.
Carroll, Shanahan, and Fangio have all worn neck gaiters during their teams' first two games, but each of them has often been seen with the covering pushed down below their chin.
The NFL's game-day safety protocols state, "All individuals with Bench Area Access, except for Players, shall be required to wear masks at all times. Coaches must wear either a mask, neck gaiter, and/or face shield to satisfy this obligation."
A week before the first pro football games, those protocols were released. The initiatives also facilitate the wearing of masks by players who are not in the game, and the policy reminds them to comply with local regulations.
The mask requirement extends beyond the teams' bench area. Anyone with field access, from stadium workers to journalists, at all times must also wear masks or other face coverings.
Bill Belichick has Bird Mask Technology
Bill Belichick has Bird Mask Technology pic.twitter.com/QQztKicrtD
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 21, 2020
