Chiefs can reopen facility on Tuesday

All NFL teams can begin to reopen their facilities on Tuesday, according to a memo sent to clubs by league commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday. The memo specifies that teams can reopen as long as they have permission under state and local regulations.

Based upon local regulations, that includes the Kansas City Chiefs.

There are specific league guidelines as to who may be allowed in the building when facilities reopen:

• No more than 50% of non-player staff (and a maximum of 75 employees) per day.
• Players that were already rehabbing injuries prior to the closures can return, along with strength and conditioning staff members contributing to player rehab.

No other members of the coaching staff, including Andy Reid, are allowed in the facility.

“This first phase of reopening is an important step in demonstrating our ability to operate safely and effectively, even in the current environment,” wrote Goodell. “After we implement this first phase, and as more states and localities enact policies that allow more club facilities to reopen, I expect that additional staff, likely including coaching staff, will be allowed to return to club facilities in a relatively short time.”

This memo adds that teams unable to meet local criteria on Tuesday, May 19, may reopen their facilities on the earliest date on which they are able to meet the criteria. The Chiefs facility has been closed since Monday, March 16.

The NFL originally intended to keep facilities completely closed in order to maintain what was termed “competitive equity.” The new plan marks a significant revision from that initial ruling.