Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich has tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated.
“I’m excited for training camp, however, I’m disappointed I won’t be there with the team as we start,” Reich said in a statement. “I’m fortunate to be fully vaccinated, and I’m asymptomatic. I’m feeling well, and I’m looking forward to returning as soon as I’m medically cleared.”
The earliest Reich can return to camp is on Monday, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said. “I think Frank testing positive and showing no symptoms shows [vaccination] works,” Ballard said. “It’s a shame in our country right now that we’ve politicized something good.”
Since NFL personnel returned to work last month, four players and 13 staffers have tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. Those numbers include positive tests for one player and one staffer this past weekend. Reich tested positive Thursday or Friday of last week, Ballard said. The general manager added that a staffer is the only other member of the organization to test positive, but Ballard did not provide the media with a specific name.
The NFL and NFLPA have been in discussions to increase the testing for vaccinated staff and players as an extra precaution.
Reich will not be there physically but he will still be involved in meetings through Zoom and will remain in contact with the players and staff. The team will not name an interim coach, as special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone will handle things in practice because he has seniority among the rest of the coaching staff. However, he will get help from offensive coordinator Marcus Brady and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
