New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the first known case among those in NFL circles, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Saints’ HC Sean Payton tested positive for the coronavirus, he told ESPN on Thursday. Payton is the first person in the NFL world known to test positive for the virus.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020
Schefter noted that Payton decided to come forward to encourage others to follow the recommendations to combat the virus.
Sean Payton said he came forward with his coronavirus diagnosis because he wants all people to heed the warnings of government officials, stay inside, and behave responsibly. More ahead on ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020
Payton has had the virus for eight days after feeling like he was dealing with a cold, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
#Saints coach Sean Payton has had coronavirus for about 8 days and has 5 more days of confinement. He’s in good spirits, despite the diagnosis. https://t.co/KCn76KHksj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020
Sean Payton, who attended a race at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, felt like he was coming down with a cold and wasn’t feeling right. Got tested, and was found to have the coronavirus. It sounds like he’s feeling better now.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020
Of course, given what has transpired around the United States and in the NBA, it seemed to be only a matter of time before the illness hit NFL personnel.
The Saints coach has been one of the more vocal coaches in the league with respect to coronavirus, and he initially expected the league year (which officially began Wednesday afternoon) to be pushed back in light of travel concerns for free agents pending physicals–among other things.
Though the league year has in fact started on schedule, Payton was correct n predicting changes to the NFL Draft in April (via Amie Just of Nola.com):
“Certainly the format's going to change, relative to what they're used to,” Payton said. “Like everyone else around the country, not only that, around the world, we're all making the necessary changes and really prioritizing what's most important — everyone's health and wellbeing.
“The thing that's lost in it all is for us that are maybe younger, it's one thing. We could become infected and become carriers, but the way you must feel if you're an older person — that's something that you would never want … to have that fear of being in that age group that's affected the most. I think that's certainly frightening.”
The NFL had already canceled its annual meeting with league owners and GMs, and it remains to be seen whether Payton's positive test will have further impact on the offseason.
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