Referees Association, NFL ratify 7-year CBA to avoid work stoppage - ESPN

The NFL Referees Association ratified a new 7-year collective bargaining agreement Friday with the NFL, concluding a multiyear negotiation and eliminating the possibility of a work stoppage prior to the 2026 season.

Full details of the agreement were not immediately available, but the NFL tied the negotiations into several initiatives for improving officiating and, according to sources, the league will get increased access to officials in the offseason for a formal training program during minicamps, training camps and joint practices. The NFL will also develop a bench of officials and will have greater latitude to use performance metrics for postseason assignments rather than seniority.

In a statement, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said: «This agreement is a testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating. It also speaks to the game officials' relentless pursuit of improvement and officiating excellence. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the game.»

Officials will receive significant raises from their 2025 salaries. Earlier this spring, the NFL offered a 10% increase in game fees across the board in the regular season and up to 30% for those who work the Super Bowl, per sources at the time. The league had hoped to increase the probationary period for new officials from three years to four, but the agreement kept that duration at three years.

The NFLRA's current CBA was set to expire May 31.

«It was a mutual and determined effort, and the outcome is seven years of certainty for the league and the officials,» NFLRA executive director Scott Green said in a statement. «We appreciate Troy Vincent and [lead negotiator]