Dozens of NFL players on Sunday, using the hashtag “#WeWantToPlay,” demanded that the professional football league address coronavirus health concerns and adhere to expert guidelines as the season approaches, The Hill reported.
NFL Players Association President J.C. Tretter posted that “The NFL needs to listen to our union and adopt the experts' recommendations," adding that, “What you are seeing today is our guys standing up for each other and for the work their union leadership has done to keep everyone as safe as possible."
Rookies are expected to report to training camp this Tuesday.
Players expressed concern about their families, with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson noting that his wife is pregnant.
“There’s still No Clear Plan on Player Health & Family Safety,” he wrote. “We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones.”
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Anthony Hitchens pointed out that concerns remain, tweeting that “if I get the virus at work and I unknowingly pass it to my wife and kids, will the NFL cover medical cost?”
Several other players slammed the league for not following the recommendations of health experts, with New Orleans Saints safety Malcom Jenkins tweeting that “it blows my mind that the NFL is unwilling to follow the recommendations of their own experts regarding player health and safety. If we want to have a FULL season this year we need the NFL to listen to their experts!”
At least 65 NFL players have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the latest update on the Players Association website.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.