Report: NFL on the verge of a labor deal with it’s officials

According to reports, the NFL and the NFL Referee’s Association (NFLRA), the official’s union, are on the verge of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The ESPN report states that things are going so well, the NFLRA has scheduled a Thursday meeting to hold a ratification vote.

The current CBA expires on May 31. If the NFL and the union ratify a new agreement, it will get rid of the specter of replacement officials working NFL games. In March, the NFL began the process of hiring replacement officials to work NFL games if there was a work stoppage with the NFLRA.

If there is labor peace, it would also nullify a rule passed last month that would allow replay officials stepping in and making calls for replacement officials.

There are no details about a potential new union contract. The big issues between the union and the NFL this winter have been compensation, the length of an official’s probationary period, and the length of the official’s “dark period” – the time in the offseason where the NFL does not communicate with the officials – allowing the officials to devote full attention to their non-NFL jobs.

Nothing is final. Nothing is set in stone. It isn’t over until it’s over. But all signs, right now, are pointing to labor peace and the NFL having its regular officials on the field for the entire 2026 season.