Skip to content

68 players opt out of 2020 NFL season as deadline passes

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty

A total of 68 NFL players decided to sit out the 2020 season before Thursday's 4 p.m. ET opt-out deadline.

Kansas City Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first player to opt out of the upcoming season on the same day the NFLPA approved the league's return-to-play plan.

Plenty of players have followed his lead, including Duvernay-Tardif's teammate and Super Bowl LIV hero Damien Williams, who decided not to play to protect his mother amid her cancer battle; New York Jets Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley; and New York Giants left tackle Nate Solder.

The New England Patriots have been the hardest-hit team, with eight players deciding not to play, including longtime defensive standouts Dont'a Hightower and Patrick Chung.

Players will still be able to opt out after the deadline if they are deemed to be high risk for the coronavirus or if a close relative dies or becomes hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Here is a team-by-team rundown of everyone who won't play in 2020:

Team Players opted out
ARI OT Marcus Gilbert
ATL
BAL WR/KR De’Anthony Thomas / OT Andre Smith
BUF DT Star Lotulelei / CB E.J. Gaines
CAR LB Jordan Mack / DE Christian Miller
CHI DT Eddie Goldman / S Jordan Lucas
CIN DT Josh Tupou / OT Isaiah Prince
CLE G Drew Forbes / OT Drake Dorbeck 
DT Andrew Billings / G Colby Gossett
G Malcolm Pridgeon
DAL CB Maurice Canady / WR Stephen Guidry
FB Jamize Olawale
DEN DT Kyle Peko / OT Ja'Wuan James
DET DT John Atkins / WR Geronimo Allison
C Russell Bodine
GB WR Devin Funchess
HOU DT Eddie Vanderdoes
IND LB Skai Moore / CB Marvell Tell
DB Rolan Milligan
JAX DT Al Woods / DL Lerentee McCray
CB Rashaan Melvin
KC OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif / RB Damien Williams
OT Lucas Niang
LAC
LAR G Chandler Brewer
LV CB D.J. Killings / DE Jeremiah Valoaga
LB Ukeme Eligwe
MIA WR Allen Hurns / WR Albert Wilson
MIN DT Michael Pierce 
NE LB Dont’a Hightower / S Patrick Chung
RT Marcus Cannon / RB Brandon Bolden
FB Danny Vitale / OL Najee Toran
WR Marqise Lee / TE Matt LaCosse
NO TE Jason Vander Laan / TE Cole Wick
NYG OT Nate Solder / WR Da'Mari Scott
CB Sam Beal
NYJ LB C.J. Mosley / OL Leo Koloamatangi
WR Josh Doctson
PHI WR Marquise Goodwin
PIT
SF WR Travis Benjamin / OL Shon Coleman
OL Jake Brendel
SEA G Chance Warmack
TB OT Brad Seaton
TEN OT Anthony McKinney
WAS DL Caleb Brantley / LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
Free agents G Larry Warford

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox