The previous standard before the COVID-19
pandemic was hour upon hour of meetings at
team facilities, whether involving the entire roster
in an auditorium or breaking into smaller groups
on offense, defense, special teams or by specific
positions. While in-person gatherings won’t
entirely disappear, the NFL found the ability to
meet virtually is a positive development.
“We got together as a coaching team,” said
Callie Brownson, Cleveland’s chief of staff, “and
our coaches said we got better at teaching
because we had to find a way to get better. The
eagerness to adapt and learn and change is such
a valuable commodity as a coach.”
Brownson became the first woman to handle NFL
in-game sideline coaching duties last season.
At a time when so many other sports endured
massive delays and restructured schedules
because of the pandemic, the NFL made it to the
finish line without any major disruptions, largely
by embracing technology. The league in essence
used the draft last April as a proving ground,
and when that worked so well — Goodell even
was widely praised for his emcee role — being
remote was not a hindrance during offseason
programs and onward.
“The draft is an example” of the effectiveness of
the technology the NFL used, Goodell noted.
“When I told the teams what we were planning
to do, to say there was outcry would be an
understatement. That had not been done before.
“They had to adapt, to use technology properly.
“It also gave us a chance to go inside people’s
homes. The number of notes I got about being
at home with their families and having them
experience it (with the players). ... And there was