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The NFL Players Association shared a joint statement with and in support of the NFL Referees Association during ongoing negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement following reports that the league was reportedly planning to hire and train replacement referees in the event that a deal isn't reached before the beginning of the season.
"Player safety requires trained, professional officials on the field. They manage the game in real time, enforce the rules, and stop situations from escalating. That can't be replaced by less experienced crews or handled remotely. If player safety truly matters, trained professional officials on the field are not negotiable," NFLPA executive director JC Tretter said in the joint statement.
The NFL has reportedly begun compiling a list of potential replacement officials, many of whom are from the low-college ranks, and will start training them on May 1, 30 days prior to the expiration date of the current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLRA. League owners approved a rule solely for the 2026 season allowing the New York replay center to correct “clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game” ahead of the possible use of replacement referees.
The NFL had previously used replacement officials in 2012, which resulted in several botched calls during primetime games during the first three weeks of the season following an offseason lockout. The league will also allow the replay center to consult with on-field officials when considering ejections on flagrant football and non-football acts that were missed on the field.
The latter rule change came months after Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf wasn't ejected from a regular season road game against the Detroit Lions after an altercation with a heckling fan as officials didn't see him swipe at the fan and, therefore, didn't throw a flag, so the replay center was unable to intervene. Metcalf was, however, suspended two games, but able to stay with the team during that span.
The league also approved three changes to kickoffs including one permitting the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game, regardless of the score, having previously only been allowed to do so while trailing.