Steelers claim exemption from governor; players won't wear masks on field

While athletes and coaches in Pennsylvania are required to wear masks under orders from Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration, the Pittsburgh Steelers believe the team and their opponents do not fall into that category.

“We have received guidance from the Governor’s Office that our players are exempt from wearing masks during an NFL game,” Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said in a statement Wednesday. “All other personnel working at an NFL game are required to wear masks. In addition, we will continue to enforce our protocols that require all fans entering Heinz Field to wear a mask.”

The next home game for the Steelers is scheduled for Nov. 26, which is Thanksgiving, at 8:20 p.m. against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers were not permitted to have fans in attendance for the first two games at Heinz Field before allowing a limited amount to attend the past three home games. The Steelers had a season-high crowd of 5,909 Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Steelers players must continue to wear masks during practice as mandated by the NFL’s intensive protocol to ward off the spread of covid-19. The Steelers have two players on the league’s reserve/covid-19 list: tight end Vance McDonald and guard Kevin Dotson.

The mandate, which was implemented Tuesday by state Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, has raised questions throughout Pennsylvania’s high schools. The PIAA decided Wednesday to allow the determination to individual school districts and urged school solicitors to consider exceptions that Levine included in the mandate.