NFL, NFL Referees Association agree to new CBA, ending replacement officials plan
USA Today / 5-8-26
The league and the NFL Referees Association agreed on Friday, May 8, to a new collective bargaining agreement, replacing the CBA that was set to expire on May 31 and ending the possibility that replacement officials would be necessary going into the 2026 season. The new pact will run through the 2032 campaign.
SNIP
Prior to the new CBA's ratification, the NFL had been laying the groundwork to use replacement officials − from both the recruitment process and rule modifications for the upcoming season which would have allowed for more involvement from the league office in New York to preside over games remotely and use instant replay more broadly than is normally permitted. However New York's more widespread involvement, which some current and former league coaches have advocated for anyway, was only to be implemented in the event the use of replacement officials became absolutely necessary.
FULL STORY: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/05/08/nfl-refs-referees-association-cba-lockout-replacement-officials/89963748007/
Good news