League ends daily COVID-19 testing for all players

The NFL is curtailing daily testing of all players, vacci- nated or unvaccinated, for COVID-19.

In a memo sent to the 32 clubs, the league said Friday that medical experts from the NFL and the players’ union agreed to the change. Those doctors have seen enough evidence of a decrease in positive tests in the last month to feel comfortable with dropping daily tests.

Last month, weekly testing for vaccinated players and personnel was stopped, but anyone who reported symptoms of COVID-19 or was part of targeted surveillance still was subjected to testing.

“Following consultation with our jointly retained infectious disease experts, the NFL and NFL Players Association have updated the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 protocols to eliminate the distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated players to determine testing cadence,” the memo said. “Effective immediately, all players and tiered staff will be subject to strategic and targeted testing.”

The league will continue symptom-based testing and screening for symptoms.

“This comprehensive, symptom-based approach to testing reflects our recent experience with the omicron variant and conforms to current public health recommendations and best practices employed in healthcare,” the memo said, “and offers the best opportunity for identifying and treating cases promptly and avoiding spread within the facility.” LONGTIME STEELERS COACH BUTLER RETIRES >> Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler retired on Saturday, less than a week after his 19th season with the team ended in a blowout playoff loss to Kansas City.

The 65-year-old Butler, who spent 10 seasons as a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks, helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls and reach another during his long tenure as a coach. He served as the linebackers coach from 2003-14 and was promoted to coordinator in 2015 after Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau’s contract was not renewed.

“I have spent every year since 1990 as a coach in the NFL and the NCAA, but the time is right for me to walk away after a successful career both playing and coaching the game I love,” Butler said in a statement.

Coach Mike Tomlin said earlier in the week that Butler had told him informally he was thinking about stepping down. Pittsburgh (9-7-1) made the playoffs this season while enduring its worst statistical season defensively since 1988.

The Steelers finished 24th in yards allowed and were last in the league against the run. Thanks in large part to All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh did lead the NFL in sacks for a fifth straight season.

Butler broke into coaching at Memphis State in 1990 and spent 1998 as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Arkansas State, where his staff included Tomlin, the defensive backs coach at the time.

Butler reached the NFL in 1999 when he got a job with Cleveland and was lured to Pittsburgh in 2003 to join Bill Cowher’s staff.