Pat McAfee blasts potential 'high school refs' as NFL weighs replacement officials during labor talks

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The NFL Referees Association and the league remain locked in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement.

If talks grow contentious and extend into the coming months, the league could again turn to replacement referees until a deal is reached, a possibility first reported by Pro Football Talk. ESPN reviewed emails stating the NFL has begun "laying the groundwork" to potentially use replacement referees for the upcoming season.

If replacements are utilized, it would mark the first time unconventional referees have been used since 2012. The contingency plan has drawn scrutiny from ESPN college football analyst Pat McAfee.

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Pat McAfee takes the stage at "ESPN College GameDay" ahead of the University of Oklahoma–Michigan college football game in Norman, Oklahoma, on Sept. 6, 2025. (IMAGN)

"Nope we can’t be doing replacement high school refs in the nfl again," the "Pat McAfee Show" host wrote on X in response to a report that replacement referees are being floated for the 2026 season.

McAfee underscored the importance of NFL officials, emphasizing accountability and a commitment to the game.

"What we need is these refs to understand that they're not perfect. We want them to adapt with the modern technology. We want them to be for the good of the game, not just for the good of each other. Come on refs, we need (you). …. We need you to care about the game. We need ya to have a little bit of feel. We need (you) to be committed to what ball is. And there's a lot of you out there who are, and we appreciate that."

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