Trending Now - NFL Considers Replacement Officials Amid Labor Discussions
WHO:
NFL Referees Association
NFL (National Football League)
Pat McAfee, ESPN college football analyst
Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president
Scott Green, NFLRA executive director
WHAT:
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association are in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement.
The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on May 31, 2026.
The NFL is considering using replacement referees for the 2026 season if negotiations do not progress.
Approximately 150 officials are being contacted from lower-level college conferences to serve as potential replacements.
The average NFL official earned about $350,000 annually last season.
The NFL has proposed a 10% increase in game fees and up to a 30% increase for Super Bowl officials.
The NFLRA is looking to shorten the probation period for new officials, currently set at three years.
WHERE:
The NFL command center is located in New York City.
The league's annual meeting will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, starting on March 29, 2026.
WHEN:
The NFL's collective bargaining agreement expires on May 31, 2026.
The NFL's annual meeting begins on March 29, 2026.
The NFL used replacement referees during a lockout that lasted 110 days in 2012.
WHY:
Negotiations have reached a stalemate, prompting the NFL to consider replacement officials.
The NFL aims to ensure an officiating culture centered around performance and accountability.
HOW:
The NFL is compiling a list of potential replacement officials and finalizing rule changes to allow centralized officiating.
The onboarding process for replacement officials will begin in May 2026 to vet applicants before training camp.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 15:14 UTC)
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association are currently in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire on May 31, 2026. If these talks do not progress, the NFL is considering using replacement referees for the upcoming season, reaching out to about 150 officials from lower-level college conferences as potential substitutes. The league has proposed a 10% increase in game fees and up to a 30% increase for Super Bowl officials, while the NFLRA is pushing to shorten the probation period for new officials, currently set at three years.