The NFL and the NFL Referees Association have agreed on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement that avoids a potential work stoppage and the use of replacement officials. The agreement, approved by the union's board of directors and ratified by membership vote, runs through the 2032 NFL season.
"We see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make our game better. It is good to get these negotiations behind us so we can focus on preparing for the 2026 season," said union President Carl Cheffers.
The previous collective bargaining agreement was set to expire on May 31, with negotiations having begun in the summer of 2024. The NFL began an onboarding process for replacement officials last month as negotiations stalled, but the new deal means replacement officials will not be necessary.
The agreement covers a wide range of issues including economics, performance and accountability, according to a joint statement from both sides. Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, stated: "This agreement is a testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating. It also speaks to the game officials' relentless pursuit of improvement and officiating excellence. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the game".
The NFL had sought increased access to officials in the offseason, a practice squad or bench of officials, a new formal training program, and control of playoff assignments based on performance. A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press these priorities were met in the agreement.
The agreement comes more than a decade after a 2012 stalemate that resulted in a 110-day lockout and the use of replacement referees, which led to several high-profile officiating mistakes. Detailed terms of the new agreement were not released.
