The NFL has made its move, preparing for the crisis that looms over the season after failing to come to an agreement with the NFLRA on a new collective bargaining deal.

Insider Tom Pelissero has reported that the league will proceed with replacement referees. 

“The NFL informed clubs today it will begin training replacement officials next month with the goal of preparing them for team visits starting June 1 if no deal can be reached with the referees union, per a memo obtained by NFL Network,” he wrote in a Thursday X post. 

“Negotiations will continue between the NFL and NFLRA later this week. The current labor deal expires May 31.”

Reports suggest that on Wednesday, the league informed teams that they will send replacement referees to their facilities for “work practices beginning June 1.”

The NFL and the NFLRA have been in a tussle for the past two years now. The league did offer annual raises and proposed changes like longer probation periods and assigning postseason charges based on performance instead of veteran status. But the NFLRA is seeking even higher figures, and is not on board with the league's suggestion. Talks hit a dead end last month.

Since these will be replacement referees, there is now a major doubt about how credible they will be. One wrong call, and it may end all hopes for a team. The NFL has had to take this step twice before- once in 2001 and then in 2012.

Getting replacement referees should not be a long-term solution, as things can turn chaotic if agreements are not reached with the NFLRA.

2012 Officiating Error Remains A Big Reminder of How Important It Is to arrive at a decision

In 2001, the NFLRA came back into action after the season hit a pause due to the September attacks. They resumed work when Week 2 started in January. But in 2012, a major backlash over an officiating blunder was what forced the two sides to sign a deal.

The Week 3 game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks was the catalyst. Seattle wideout Golden Tate and Green Bay safety MD Jennings were both in possession of the ball at the end zone on one play. One official called it a touchdown while the other called it an interception. Ultimately, it was controversially ruled a touchdown.

Two days later, the NFL and NFLRA signed an agreement. The incident became known as Fail Mary. And in anticipation of a Fail Mary 2, the NFL will now allow centralized replay correction of blatant errors if replacement officials are used in the 2026 season.

How long will it take for the two sides to meet in the middle this time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Afreen Kabir