NFL and its referees come to a long-term agreement

The NFL has avoided a strike with its referees by reaching an agreement announced just moments ago. 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. com/5npgDk5SzV — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 8, 2026 “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's objectives all along. The league’s investment in the officials continues to grow.

Increased access to officials in the offseason, development of a “bench” of officials, and a new formal training program that includes minicamps, training camps, and joint practices are all part of the new agreement. The NFL was already planning to use replacement officials if this plan hadn’t gone through. Contingent on replacement officials being used, were approved by NFL owners this spring to give the staffers in the league’s New York City officiating command center the ability to consult with a game’s on-field replacement ref on an assortment of penalties, called and uncalled, as well as other administrative procedures, per ESPN .