Masks no longer required for fully vaccinated players, staff at NFL facilities
The NFL has updated its COVID-19 protocols after the CDC said Thursday it's safe for those who are fully vaccinated to not wear masks in most indoor and outdoor settings.
As a result, fully vaccinated players and staff are no longer required to wear masks anywhere at team facilities, the league announced Friday.
Still, teams must adhere to local and state regulations that may be more restrictive. For example, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the state will continue with its indoor mask mandate despite the CDC's updated policy.
The NFL's updated protocols went into effect Friday with rookie minicamps underway.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski - who won Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm - joked about being able to see the faces of his staff and players.
"There were some people, I didn't realize that's what they looked like," he said, according to NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala.