Report: “Extremely Small” Chance There Won’t Be 2020 NFL Season

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing sources with direct knowledge of both the NFL’s deliberations and the current and expected medical and scientific developments in the coming weeks and months, reports that there’s an “extremely small” chance that there will be no NFL season in 2020.

One source explains to Florio that the information in terms of fighting and studying the coronavirus would have to be proven “dramatically incorrect” for there to not be a 2020 season.

Florio mentions that there’s expected to be adequate and efficient testing available in the form of saliva or finger prick with quick turnaround times. Beyond that, Florio says there should also be enough testing for the general public to justify testing all players, coaches, trainers and other key figures to operate an NFL team.

The NFL will need to have pre-admission testing on a daily basis in order to prevent an outbreak in a locker room and avoid having to play in a central location.

While there has been a lot of talk about fans not being allowed to attend games this year, Florio mentions that the belief is that stadiums will be open to fans with a preference for open stadiums in Week 1.

The virus isn’t expected to be gone by the start of the regular season. Florio expects teams to season-ticket holders to suspend their arrangements for 2020 with no impact on the ability to buy tickets in 2021 or beyond in case they’re either high risk or uncomfortable with attending games this year.

Some experts have suggested a “checkerboard” seating arrangement, but Florio can’t see this working in NFL stadiums, considering that it would be nearly impossible to keep fans from staying at least six feet apart while using restrooms, getting concessions and entering and exiting the facility.

Florio does, however, admit there could be delays in terms of training camps and possibly the start of the regular season, depending on what governors around the country elect to do in terms of allowing teams to open stadiums.

One possibility that has already been tossed out is pushing the Super Bowl back to February 28, which would buy the NFL an extra three weeks to get ready. Another option would be to eliminate bye weeks and the week between the championship games and the Super Bowl. That would give the NFL five weeks of cushion to get ready.

“However the specific dates play out, the generalities currently are this: An NFL season is highly likely to occur, and it’s possible if not probable that all 256 games will feature stadiums that will be open to fans who choose to attend,” Florio writes.

Testing has been increasing in the U.S. but there’s still a long way to go. The good news is that the NFL season isn’t scheduled to start until Thursday, September 10 and it’s possible they could stretch things into October if need be. 

There’s also the possibility of the NFL cutting games if need be. 

The NFL is set to release the full 16-week schedule next week that will have built-in contingencies to give them more options, depending on how things play over the next few months. 

The good news is that there’s at least some optimism a 2020 NFL season will take place. 

We’ll have more regarding the 2020 season as the news is available.