NFL and referees avoid work stoppage with new collective bargaining agreement
The NFL and its referees association have a new collective bargaining agreement, avoiding a work stoppage and hopefully anything like 2012's botched 'Fail Mary' call.
NFL referee Shawn Hochuli (83) and back judge Jimmy Russell (82) review a play at the instant replay cart during a game between the Chargers and New York Giants on Sept. 28 in East Rutherford, N. J.
(Adam Hunger / Associated Press) There will be no replacement referees — and therefore, hopefully, no " Fail Mary " repeat — in the NFL this fall. The league and the NFL Referees Assn. have avoided a work stoppage by agreeing on a new collective bargaining agreement that runs through the 2032 season.
The current deal was scheduled to expire May 31. The sides having been negotiating since the summer of 2024, and the NFL had begun the hiring process for replacement officials last month. Read more: Avoiding another 'Fail Mary': Inside the tense NFL vs.
referees labor dispute "This agreement is a testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating," NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said in a statement. "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.