The NFL and the NFL Referees Association agreed Friday on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement that avoids a potential work stoppage and use of replacement officials. The agreement runs through the 2032 NFL season and was approved by the union's board of directors and ratified by a vote of the membership.
The previous collective bargaining agreement had been set to expire on May 31, with negotiations beginning in the summer of 2024. The league had begun the onboarding process for replacement officials last month because negotiations weren't progressing, but they will not be necessary under the new deal.
"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.
According to a joint statement, the deal covers a wide range of issues including economics, performance and accountability. 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".
Detailed contract terms were not released publicly. However, a source with knowledge of the new deal told the Associated Press that the NFL's negotiating priorities were met, including 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.
The agreement prevents a repeat of 2012, when a 110-day lockout resulted in replacement referees being used, leading to several high-profile officiating mistakes.
