The NFL announced on Wednesday plans for the 2021 offseason program.

The offseason program will be nine weeks in length, and will be voluntary except for one mandatory mini-camp.

The first phase will last four weeks from April 19 to May 14. Meetings will be held in a virtual format, with players spending two hours per day at the club's direction. The first phase will include no on-field drills or work with coaches, and facility and weight room capacity limits will remain in place.

Each club will make every effort to have the vaccine available for players, staff and families during the first phase of the program.

The second phase of the offseason program will take place from May 17 to May 21. Meetings will continue in a virtual setting. On-field drills with coaches are allowed, but per CBA rules, there can be no contact and they must be done at a teaching pace.

The third phase will last another four weeks from May 24 to June 18. This phase will include traditional OTAs, which will last 10 days. OTAs will be full speed but no contact will be allowed. Meetings during the third phase can be in-person or in a virtual setting. This phase includes the mandatory minicamp.

In addition, the league and NFLPA agreed on COVID protocols for the offseason program. Regular season protocols from last season will remain in place. There will be daily testing with Mesa tests, along with the addition of staff vaccination protocols.

Finally, there will be no change in the Rookie Football Development Program or the post-draft rookie minicamp. As in prior years, the three-day post-draft rookie minicamp may be conducted on either the first or second weekend following the 2021 NFL Draft.