For the last two years, NFL media access has been virtual due to the effects of COVID-19. Things will be changing for the upcoming season though.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy announced today at the league meetings in Florida that locker rooms will be open for 2022. That means reporters will be able to interact with players and coaches up close and personal after practices and games.
Obviously, this was standard operating procedure before March 2020, and media members are understandably excited to get back to what was normal.
The response to the news on Twitter has been overwhelmingly positive.
.@NFLprguy steals Roger Goodell’s thunder with the best news of the day. Asked about media access to NFL locker rooms for the 2022 season:
“They will be open!”
Let’s go
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) March 29, 2022
.@NFLprguy with an assist, answering the question @PFWAwriters care about: Locker rooms will be open to media in 2022.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) March 29, 2022
Locker rooms will be open to reporters in 2022, the NFL announces. Significant news in terms of how all 32 teams get covered.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) March 29, 2022
“Who cares about locker rooms being open to reporters?!?”—a bunch of Twitter dudes who breathlessly follow every piece of NFL news like it’s instructions on how to stay alive for five more minutes.
— Michael Schottey (@Schottey) March 29, 2022
Open locker rooms are back in the NFL.
WE BACK.— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) March 29, 2022
Roger Goodell says locker rooms will be open again to reporters. Hallelujah.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) March 29, 2022
Why locker room access matters:
Relationships and accountability.
Foundation of any good story and honest coverage of the beat.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 29, 2022
NFL locker rooms will again be open to media.
But we will always have this moment. pic.twitter.com/YMy5E0oDEQ
— Bruce Ciskie (@BruceCiskie) March 29, 2022
So…. the biggest news of the day as far as I’m concerned: Locker rooms apparently will be OPEN to media next season. This is a game changer for valuable media access and helps fans in a big way.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 29, 2022
The NFL will open locker rooms to media in the 2022 season, per @NFLprguy. And that’s the first time I’ve heard applause in a press conference in a long time. A huge change that, ultimately, will greatly benefit fans with better access to the league and its personnel.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) March 29, 2022
There’s no doubt that having this increased access is a game-changer for NFL media. It allows them more freedom to hunt for stories and connect with the athletes they cover.
This should lead to more thorough and detailed reporting throughout the course of the season, which is a good thing for fans. Everyone benefits–except maybe the players themselves, who haven’t had to worry about getting interviewed on their way back from the shower or bathroom the last two seasons.
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