Mike Tomlin: Steelers 'tops in the league' in vaccinations

If the NFL is concerned about its players being slow to receive a covid-19 vaccination, it shouldn’t cast an eye toward the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That was the news coach Mike Tomlin relayed Tuesday, the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp.

Tomlin said he is “really comfortable” with the number of players on the team’s 90-man roster who have received a covid-19 vaccination, although he didn’t have a precise figure handy.

“We had a couple (get vaccinated) today,” he said. “I don’t know the exact percentage, but from what I understand we’re tops in the league in terms of this process.”

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that only half of the NFL’s 32 teams have at least 50 of their players vaccinated. Three teams have at least 70 players vaccinated, the Post reported. If Tomlin is correct, the Steelers would be among that small group.

“I like the overall trajectory of our participation in the vaccination process,” Tomlin said. “Guys have worked hard to adhere to policies and protocols. It’s a continuation of 2020 in terms of our attitude. We’re going to look for any advantage that compliance might give us. Participation has been awesome.”

The NFL has tried to incentivize players to get a covid-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated players are not subject to daily testing or mask requirements, and they do not face quarantines because of a contract tracing involving a person testing positive for coronavirus.

NFL players association executive director DeMaurice Smith said last week that the union has “urged” players to get the vaccine.

“We’re urged them to just make sure that they just make a decision that’s informed,” he said.