Minnesota Vikings fire coach who declined COVID vaccine

The firing is the first time an NFL coach was fired for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Minnesota Vikings fired an assistant coach because he opted not to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Breaking: Rick Dennison is out as Vikings offensive line coach/run game coordinator after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. MIN will promote assistant OL coach Phil Rauscher to replace Dennison, hired Auburn special teams analyst Ben Steele as an assistant. https://t.co/3oOgXHsaMr

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) July 23, 2021

“Rick Dennison had served as the Vikings' offensive line coach/run game coordinator the past two seasons,” ESPN.com reported. “In a statement Friday, the Vikings said they were still in discussions with Dennison about the league's COVID-19 protocols.”

“Another coach in the league, New England Patriots co-offensive line coach Cole Popovich, also won't be with his team in 2021 in a decision related to the COVID-19 vaccine and NFL guidelines, league sources confirmed to ESPN,” the sports news site reported.

#ThePurge:

Rick Dennison, A longtime NFL assistant coach for #Vikings is out of the job for refusing to receive the #Covid19 Vaccine.https://t.co/OBVclW6ou0 pic.twitter.com/1SJdYnSWPW

— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) July 23, 2021

Dennison has coached in the NFL for 27 years, but his ability to get hired remains uncertain due to the heavy-handed league rules.

Do you think the NFL should let people make their own choices? Should Dennison sue the NFL and the Minnesota Vikings? Let us know!

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