The NFL and the NFLRA have agreed to a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that keeps NFL referees on the field through the 2032 NFL season.
One of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason was the status of referees, as negotiations have been underway all offseason between the NFL and NFLRA regarding a new deal. The previous CBA was set to expire at the end of May.
The new CBA nixes the possibility of using replacement refs this year, a topic that was brought up increasingly prior to the new deal coming into effect.
The negotiations were beneficial for both parties, with the referees securing their desired compensation figures and benefits, while the NFL secured increased offseason access to officials to ensure they received improved training and could also work offseason minicamps and training camps.
They also agreed on a “bench,” or pool, of reserve officials in case poorly performing referees need to be replaced.
“We see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make our game better,” NFLRA President Carl Cheffers said. “It is good to get these negotiations behind us so we can focus on preparing for the 2026 season.”
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