Minnesota Vikings assistant coach Rick Dennison is out of a job after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. Dennison is reportedly the first NFL position coach to part ways with a team after refusing to get vaccinated.

Dennison had been the Vikings' offensive line coach/run game coordinator the past two seasons. It's not clear if this was a firing or if he walked away from the team after refusing the vaccine. It's worth nothing that the vaccine is required for all Tier 1 staff, which includes coaches, executives, equipment managers and scouts.

Any Tier 1 staff who doesn't get the vaccine has to provide a valid medical or religious reason for not doing so. If a coach loses Tier 1 status, they basically lose their ability to do their job.

The NFL isn't messing around with COVID-19 protocols this season. There was quite the hubbub Thursday when the league sent out a memo with a bunch of new rules, including the forfeiture of any games that are canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak among unvaccinated players.

This caused an uproar among players who are against getting the vaccine, or at the very least against the NFL mandating it. While the NFL isn't explicitly mandating getting the vaccine, they're doing everything they can to incentivize getting it.