Here we go again. NFL looking to hire replacement officials in case of work stoppage

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. According to reports, the NFL is looking for officials to work games in the 2026 season, if the league and the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) are unable to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The current union contract between the 119 officials and the NFL expires May 31.

The NFL is apparently looking for about “150 mostly small college officials.” These officials would work preseason and regular season NFL games until there is a new union contract. The hiring process could begin as early as next month.

Seriously, are we doing this again?

In 2001, the NFL locked out its officials. That lockout lasted through Week 1 of the regular season. After the 9/11/2001 terror attacks, both sides agreed to set aside differences, unite, and get a deal done. The regular officials were back at work when the NFL resumed the season.

In 2012, the NFL locked out its officials, and hired mostly small college officials and recently retired major college officials.

It was a disaster. The replacement officials did their best, but they stepped up to the plate with two strikes already against them (if you’ll pardon a mix of sports metaphors). Junior College, Division II, and Division III officials simply didn’t have the experience and the reps to call the pro game.

After the “Fail Mary” game, the NFL, especially then-executive vice president Ray Anderson had to eat some humble pie and make a deal with the NFLRA.

The lockout lasted over 100 days and was finally resolved in time for officials to work Week 4 of the 2012 season.

In 2005 and 2019, the NFL and NFLRA reached a labor deal without any work stoppage.

But it looks like the union and the NFL are far apart as of today. While we don’t know the exact sticking points, it would not surprise me if officiating tenure, performance, and the appeal process are holding things up.

Hopefully this is all saber rattling. The NFL cannot get egg on its face again and lock out its officials. While the NFL officials are criticized and we get clickbait “NFL officiating in crisis” commentaries each year just as sure as the leaves turn color in autumn, the current NFL officiating staff is the best in the world.

Lets hope both sides recognize that for the integrity of the game, the regular officials need to be on the field. Lets hope both sides hammer out a labor contract and the regular officials are on the field for the Hall of Fame Game in just a few months.