NFL Prepares Replacement Officials Amid Labor Dispute.

The National Football League (NFL) has begun preparing potential replacement officials as its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) nears expiration on May 31. According to a memo sent to teams by senior vice president of officiating Perry Fewell, several candidates have already completed background checks and will soon undergo physical evaluations. Training sessions, both virtual and in-person, are expected to begin around May 1. If a new agreement is not reached before the deadline, replacement officials could be assigned to offseason activities such as organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps starting June 1. Teams are expected to receive a preliminary schedule outlining the availability of these officials in the coming weeks. Fewell also noted that teams will be asked to provide feedback on the performance of replacement officials as the league finalizes assignments for training camp and preseason games. Negotiations between the NFL and the NFLRA have been ongoing for nearly two years but recently stalled. Although a recent meeting involving team owners, including Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, showed some progress, it was not enough to halt the league’s contingency plans. Reports indicate the NFL has proposed a six-year deal that includes average annual salary increases of 6.45 percent. In 2025, the average NFL official earned approximately $385,000.

A key point of disagreement involves proposed structural changes to officiating roles. The NFL has suggested extending the probationary period for new officials from three to five years, shortening the offseason “dead period” to allow for additional training, and reducing the influence of seniority when assigning playoff games. The NFLRA has largely resisted these proposals. Additionally, league owners have approved rule changes that would expand the authority of league staff in New York to assist with officiating decisions through video review, particularly if replacement officials are used during games. The NFL’s decision to move forward with onboarding replacement officials signals increasing pressure in negotiations and may complicate efforts to reach a final agreement with the current union.