NFL Reportedly Eying Replacement Refs if New CBA Not Reached Ahead of 2026 Season

Replacement referees could be making their return to the NFL in the 2026 season.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported Wednesday that the league is "laying groundwork for hiring replacement officials this season if the league is unable to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association."

The NFL did the same in 2012 when the two sides failed to reach an agreement before the season. That culminated in the infamous "Fail Mary" disaster and plenty of consternation among fans, players and coaches alike before the two sides reached an agreement after the third week of the season.

"Frankly," NFLRA executive director Scott Green told Seifert, "I'm surprised they would even consider it after 2012."

Green cited two potential concerns—the possibility that replacement referees might be more prone to gambler influence, and the player-safety risks of bringing aboard officials who aren't accustomed to the NFL's speed and physicality.

According to Seifert, the NFL is "looking for a list of about 150 mostly small college officials by the end of this weekend" who could "begin onboarding as early as April then attend a four-day clinic in May" before continuing preparations throughout the summer.

ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported that "frustration is mounting" among NFL owners as CBA negotiations continue with the NFLRA.