Vikings OF Coach Fired For Refusing COVID Vaccine: Report

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach Rick Dennison was fired after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a report. Dennison coached with the Vikings for two seasons.

ESPN broke the news Friday, noting Dennison is apparently the first NFL coach to be fired for refusing the vaccine.

Ahead of the 2021 season, the NFL will require all coaches, front-office executives and other members of "Tier 1 staff" to receive the vaccine.

Although players are not required to get the vaccine, if a game cannot be rescheduled because of a coronavirus outbreak among unvaccinated players on a team, that team must forfeit and those players will not be paid their salary that week, NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero reported Thursday.

The NFL said it does not anticipate adding weeks to the season to accommodate makeup games, according to Pelissero.