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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 04: The Referees huddle during the first half of the NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings on January 4th, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Who among us hasn’t yelled at an NFL referee on TV from the couch, frustrated by a call or lack thereof. Some fans’ may face even more frustration this season if the NFL can’t reach a deal with the referee union and some lesser-trained back-ups take their places.
The current collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NFL Referees Association signed in 2019 expires at the end of May. Negotiations have stalled, reports The Athletic, and now the NFL is planning to hire replacement officials in the coming weeks.
NFL leadership have begun recruiting potential replacement referees—around 150 to 180—that currently work in the NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III ranks, per The Athletic. The CBA doesn’t expire for two months, but the NFL reportedly wants to start training now because it doesn’t want to get stuck in a time crunch before preseason starts.
So what issues are they discussing? Here’s a basic overview. First up—training. The NFL is arguing for more accountability to combat inconsistencies in officiating, such as requiring low-performing officials to undergo more training during the offseason. That includes working UFL games to help sharpen their skills.
Next—money. The NFL reportedly offered a six-year deal with a 6.45 percent yearly raise for refs, who on average make about $385,000, but the referee union is pushing for 10 percent, reports ESPN.
“Our officials work for the wealthiest sports league in America, with profits that far exceed any of the others. That’s normally a point of pride for the NFL. However, our officials are substantially under-compensated when compared to baseball and basketball umpires and referees. Our officials also aren’t provided the health care benefits that those at 345 Park Avenue have,” NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green said in a statement.
Finally—assignments. The referee union wants to use a seniority-based system for postseason assignments rather than based on performance, reports The Athletic.
There are other issues the two sides are discussing, but those are some of the bigger disagreements. ESPN reports a source told them the NFL is expecting and preparing for a lockout. The current agreement ends May 31—the clock’s ticking.
And onto the rest of your notes.
- Some TV-related updates from the NFL Annual Meeting:
- “We’ve got the hard part down… we got the QB, two WR’s, we got a TE, we got the Back, a Tackle, we got frickin’ Hutch, we got Jack, we got Branch… the future looks bright.” FOX 2’s Dan Miller goes one-on-one with Dan Campbell.
- More fun offseason videos from the Lions media squad:
- “(Brad) Holmes went shopping at TJ Maxx, not Saks Fifth Avenue. That’s indisputable. However, what continues to be a point of confusion is why the team has taken that approach.” Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers takes a closer look at Holmes’ recent financial decisions when it comes to roster building so far this offseason.
- HBD to a legend!
