Report: NFL assistant loses his job after refusing COVID vaccine, Auburn staffer hired to fill vacancy
By SDS Staff
Published:
Well, this is certainly an odd way for Auburn to lose a coach.
According to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, the Minnesota Vikings have become the first NFL team to dismiss a coach for refusing to get the COVID vaccine.
Rick Dennison had been the Vikings offensive line coach/run game coordinator the past two seasons but he’s been replaced by the team’s assistant offensive line coach, Phil Rauscher. To fill Rauscher’s role, Minnesota has hired Auburn special teams analyst, Ben Steele.
Steele was hired this offseason by Bryan Harsin after previously coaching with the Falcons and Buccaneers in the NFL.
The NFL requires all “Tier 1” staff members (which are coaches, front-office executives, equipment managers and scouts) to get the COVID vaccine unless they can provide a religious or medical reason to not do so.
Employees that don’t get the vaccine cannot interact with the players, which would have resulted in a number of issues within the Vikings organization, especially on game day.
Dennison has 27 years of experience coaching in the NFL.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
