Lions News: NFL could be headed for replacement officials… again
As negotiations between the NFL and the referee union stall, the league may soon begin training replacement officials.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 04: The Referees huddle during the first half of the NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings on January 4th, 2026, at U. S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.
(Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Who among us hasn’t yelled at an NFL referee on TV from the couch, frustrated by a call or lack thereof. Some fans’ may face even more frustration this season if the NFL can’t reach a deal with the referee union and some lesser-trained back-ups take their places. The current collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NFL Referees Association signed in 2019 expires at the end of May.
Negotiations have stalled, reports The Athletic , and now the NFL is planning to hire replacement officials in the coming weeks. NFL leadership have begun recruiting potential replacement referees—around 150 to 180—that currently work in the NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III ranks, per The Athletic . The CBA doesn’t expire for two months, but the NFL reportedly wants to start training now because it doesn’t want to get stuck in a time crunch before preseason starts.
So what issues are they discussing? Here’s a basic overview. First up—training.
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