Dallas Cowboys coaches can finally return to team facilities Friday after COVID delay
Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy can finally come home.
Or rather, he can continue the work of coaching the Cowboys from the team’s headquarters at The Star in Frisco after working the last two months from his original home in Green Bay, Wis. due to the NFL’s shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a memo sent by the NFL to all teams on Thursday, coaching staffs may return to team facilities as of Friday.
“This may occur only if your club has otherwise received necessary permission from state and local governments to reopen its facility,” the memo began. “As stated in my memo of May 28, members of the coaching staff will count toward the maximum number of permissible club employees in the facility.”
Starting Friday, clubs may increase the number of employees in the facility to a maximum of 100 people, so long as that is in line with state and local regulations and the implementation of the protocols developed under the leadership of Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer.
The NFL notes that coaches and other football staff, particularly those who may be in a higher risk category or who may have their own health concerns, are expected to speak with their club’s medical staff or personal physician about any special precautions or other accommodations that may be appropriate for their particular circumstances.
In addition, a program of COVID-19 testing for the coaching staff and other football personnel prior to players returning to club facilities must be implemented.
There is still no word on when players will be allowed to return to their team’s facilities, but they may be barred until the start of training camps in late July.
“We are also continuing to work with the NFLPA on developing protocols that will allow at least some players to return to their facilities on a limited basis prior to the conclusion of the offseason program,” an NFL spokesman said.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 1:01 PM.
