2020 NFL Regular Season Could Be Delayed by a Month

Unlike other leagues, the NFL has taken some time to accept that it will be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is largely because it was the only league not currently in season when the coronavirus outbreak began.

While the NBA, NHL, MLB, Premier League et al all suspended their seasons, the NFL took a stubborn stance. League executives insisted that its 2020 regular season would start and go on as usual.

Since then, a few players have been diagnosed with the virus, and the NFL held it’s first-ever virtual draft. As well as that, teams’ offseason programs have been cancelled. 

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NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash said in March that the NFL was “planning on having a full season.”

Since, commissioner Roger Goodell has said that the league is planning for all possible alternatives.

“One thing I’ve learned about what we are going through as a country is you can’t tell a week from now much less three months from now,” Goodell said. 

“So, our job is to be ready. We will obviously be ready to make alternatives.”

Sports Business Daily reported on the leagues contingency plans, including a Super Bowl that takes place on Feb. 28.

The regular season is slated to begin on September 10. If circumstances don’t allow this, the league will begin to play a month later on October 15. In that scenario the Super Bowl will be pushed forward until the end of February from February 7. 

Read: Vikings RB Dalvin Cook Will Participate in Voluntary Offseason Program

Additionally, two weeks of early-season games could be moved to the end of the season. As well as that, a third week could put two opponents with the same bye weeks against each other, thus eliminating each team’s bye week.

The NFL schedule is expected to be released early next month.