The NFL is looking at an unprecedented move regarding game officials. Reports have emerged that the league plans to form a 12-member practice squad.

These officials will then be assigned to a specific crew, travel to stadiums, and replace their starting counterpart when needed. 

“For the first time, the NFL plans to form a practice squad of up to 12 game officials,” NFL insider Adam Schefter wrote on X on June 20. 

This development is brewing as a part of the new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association. The league has said it plans to evaluate some practice-squad members for regular-season games for developmental purposes. 

“Utilizing a practice squad this way would represent a sharp change from previous business and serve as perhaps the most visible change from CBA negotiations that the NFL pledged -- publicly and privately -- would be dedicated to improving its officiating performance,” ESPN wrote on June 20. 

The league and the association were caught up in over two years of stalled negotiations. However, when the “public threats” of a lockout increased, both parties agreed to terms, not just the practice squad, but other tweaks too. 

According to Kalyn Kahler and Kevin Seifert, these adjustments have resulted in opposing reactions.

“It has been met with excitement from some league insiders, who have long advocated for what one called an injection of “NFL DNA” into the way officials are managed,” they wrote in their report. 

On the flip side, it was received with skepticism. The NFL would be taking a risk by allowing “untested officials” midseason and giving them limited reps from tenured officials.

Critics believe that the new agreement will be implemented as it is and could meet the same fate as the 2019 CBA, which tanked. More importantly, fans are unhappy with the direction the NFL is going in.

Fans in disbelief over the new NFL game official proposal

In the comments section of Adam Schefter’s X post on the practice squad, fans shared their reactions to it. Many were against it.

“so they’re training officials to miss calls more efficiently or what,” one wrote, questioning the effectiveness of the scheme. 

“More officials doesn't automatically mean better officiating. Sometimes it just means more people to blame (laughing emoji),” another replied to the post. 

One reply enquired about the officials who will be in charge of evaluation and the criteria for these refs. 

“so who’s grading them and what’s the promotion path.”

Another light-hearted comment consisted of a GIF. A player was seen jumping the ref, who held the ball, from behind. 

“Scout team refs fighting for that starting job,” they captioned the GIF. 

One fan, however, favored the decision. 

“So if a ref makes a bad call bros getting sent down to the practice squad? I love it gives them more of a reason to make right calls,” they wrote. 

What are your thoughts?

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar