What new NFL-NFL Referees Association CBA deal means for replacement refs in 2026
What new NFL-NFL Referees Association CBA deal means for replacement refs in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . One of the biggest storylines entering the 2026 NFL season was the status of the referees, as the league and the NFLRA were negotiating a new CBA for officials.
In fact, the league was beginning the process of training replacement refs in case a deal wasn't done by September. Instead, the NFL and NFLRA successfully agreed to a new CBA that will keep the league's top referees on the field for 2026 and beyond. The two sides negotiated all offseason and finally found common ground that gave the officials more assurances moving forward.
Here's a look at the new deal between the NFL and NFLRA. MORE: Full list of picks made in the 2026 NFL Draft What the NFL-NFLRA CBA deal means for replacement refs The NFL and NFLRA announced on Friday that they agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for the next seven years, avoiding the possibility of using replacement refs this year. The agreement comes before the previous CBA was set to expire at the end of May.
As part of the deal, the NFL will create a "bench" of officials, give officials more access in the offseason and add a new formal training program for officials. I also ensures the league and the referees work together to increase accountability and effectiveness over the course of the season. The NFLRA has voted to ratify the new CBA with the NFL, averting a work stoppage and keeping the refs on the field.
It’s a 7-year deal. The deal represents a joint commitment with the officials to improve performance and increase accountability, which were the league objectives… pic. twitter.