No replacement refs: NFL strikes deal with referees association

Rejoice, football fans! The NFL won't use replacement officials for the 2026 season.

After hitting snags in labor negotiations with the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) this spring, the league started planning for the possibility of hiring replacement refs for the 2026 campaign. That news brought back memories of the 2012 season when the replacement refs went viral for an infamous "Fail Mary" during a game between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.

Fortunately, there will be no need for replacement refs in 2026 after the league and referees union reached an agreement on a new deal that has now been ratified by the NFLRA. The existing deal was scheduled to expire on May 31. The new agreement will run through the 2032 NFL season.

Of course, the league's regular officials returning does not mean the 2026 season will be without controversy. Last season, ex-linebacker Dre Greenlaw received a one-game suspension for accosting referee Brad Allen after a game, Denver lost a game to the Indianapolis Colts after Craig Wrolstad called a rare "leverage" penalty and Denver won a divisional round playoff game of a controversial against the .