Overview
- The current NFL–NFLRA collective bargaining agreement expires May 31, 2026, with bargaining underway since summer 2024 and described by the league as unsuccessful so far.
- Proposals would tie compensation and year-end bonuses to regular-season grades and prioritize top-performing officials for postseason assignments over seniority.
- The NFL seeks mandatory training with more practice reps and a longer probationary period, while the union has resisted added reps and previously proposed eliminating probation, according to the memo.
- The league also wants to create a practice-squad pool to deepen the bench of officials and shorten the Super Bowl–May 15 dead period to allow rules discussions and film review.
- The next formal negotiating session is scheduled for Dec. 30 in Atlanta, and a failure to reach a deal could prompt a lockout with replacement officials, as occurred in 2012.