No one and no entity is immune to COVID-19. As COVID-19 reared it’s ugly head the World was pretty much put on lockdown. High school, collegiate and professional athletes took a hit as schools and organizations were shutdown.
COVID-19 pandemic also single handedly closed down NFL offices and club facilities along with other professional sports organizations. NFL Pro days were cancelled. Athletes have limited workout resources as gyms and training facilities are closed across the nation. The NFL Combine went on as scheduled and a few colleges hosted pro day before this pandemic took full force. Unfortunately, once the pandemic hit and colleges cancelled pro day and social distancing became the new norm, many 2020 NFL non-combine draft prospects missed out on their opportunity to attend pro day or training/workouts days with NFL clubs to showcase their skills. This was a major set back for all involved as pro day provides one last chance to show the scouts what you’ve got. Many prospects were left to their own creative devices and submitted their virtual workouts to NFL clubs in hopes of attracting their attention. I enjoyed the “mock Combine/pro day” Boston College’s John Phillips put together where he performed the mandatory drills and requirements he would have performed on pro day.
We saw something unprecedented this year with the 2020 NFL virtual draft with no in-person attendance. Due to social distancing and lockdown requirements, the NFL virtual draft allowed us to get a glimpse into the personal lives of NFL coaches, owners, and GMs as each took to their homes with their unique setups during the draft.
The virtual draft really engaged the fans and added a nice personal touch to the whole event. Fan engagement was at an all time high as NFL clubs allowed fans a virtual tour of their “war room” setups. I think this aspect of the virtual event was a silver lining and really attracted fans and those who might not typically watch the draft.
Fans were humored by Bill Belichick’s dog pictured sitting in front of the computers during pre-draft. Fans saw Panthers head coach Matt Rhule’s kids dressed as cheerleaders in the background. Chargers GM Tom Telesco’s stuffed moose kept things interesting. Eagles GM Howie Roseman took fans on a virtual home tour of his setup. San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan took us for a tour of his home office setup ahead of the draft. Very cool. Titans GM Jon Robinson's “war room” was pretty spectacular. Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy had some interesting wall paper. Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer took cover in his Minnesota cabin with mounted trophy heads on the wall. Interesting. What about Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ draft room on his $250 million super yacht? Super awesome. Even Roger Goodell gave fans a quick tour of his Bronxville, NY basement where he announced the NFL Draft picks.
The virtual event allowed fans to watch the draft live from basically any electronics forum including phone, tablet, iPad, and computer. Clubs such as the Seahawks and Lions even invited fans to attend virtual draft after parties!
The virtual draft drew in record breaking viewership. An estimated 15.6 Million locked-down homebound viewers tuned in which is a new record for this event according to ESPN.
What does this virtual World mean for the upcoming offseason/preseason training? As NFL preseason rapidly approaches there are a number of hurdles to overcome. There has been chatter about COVID-19 testing for all players to ensure a safe environment for all involved. Most interesting, as reported by NFL Network’s Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA reached an agreement for a voluntary offseason virtual program. No on-field work is permitted until all 32 club facilities reopen.
Sources report that the virtual period will consist of three consecutive weeks of classroom instruction, workouts and non-football educational programs using videoconferencing technology. Various news outlets report that the program is voluntary for players but if they participate they can earn their off-season workout bonuses as stipulated in their individual contracts. Teams are allowed to provide players with up to $1,500 worth of workout equipment for virtual workouts.
In a World dictated by this pandemic right now, virtual technology is a golden tool to keep us all connected while ensuring our safety. I was overall impressed with the success of the 2020 virtual NFL Draft and I look forward to the rolling out of the virtual workouts on a professional level. Congratulations to all those whose dreams came true the last three days!
