The last time we saw professional football played in earnest, about 22,000 fans — including 7,500 vaccinated health care workers — watched Super Bowl LV from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. They were surrounded by some 30,000 cutouts, all part of the COVID protocols of the time.
Thursday the NFL is back, with its regular-season opener in the same stadium. Tom Brady and his Super Bowl champion Buccaneers will host the Dallas Cowboys.
This time the place will be packed. No cardboard fans.