The NFL is preparing for the possibility of using replacement officials if negotiations with its referees break down. That contingency plan has already sparked backlash across the league. Analysts and former players are warning that even considering it could impact the integrity of the game.
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The concern stems from ongoing discussions between the league and the NFL Referees Association. The current agreement is set to expire May 31, 2026. If no deal is reached, the NFL has begun preparing backup officials for the 2026 season.
“The NFL is laying groundwork for hiring replacement officials this season,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, citing a report by Kevin Seifert. “If the league is unable to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association.”
This would not be new territory. The last referee lockout in 2012 lasted 110 days, running through the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season. It ended after one of the most controversial calls in league history.
The play is now known as the “Fail Mary.” The Green Bay Packers were leading 12-7 late against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 24, 2012, when Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary into the end zone.
Packers safety M.D. Jennings appeared to secure an interception. One official signaled a touchdown for Golden Tate, while another signaled a stoppage of clock. After a brief discussion, the play was ruled a touchdown, and Seattle won the game 14-12.
That moment forced the league to reach a deal with officials almost immediately. The NFL is now preparing for a similar scenario. Reports indicate the league is seeking to compile a list of approximately 150 officials, primarily from small colleges.
They would go through an onboarding process in April and attend a four-day clinic in May. If no agreement is reached by training camp, those officials would begin working with teams ahead of the season.
That possibility has drawn strong reactions. NFL writer Tyler Dunne questioned the league’s continued resistance to making officials full-time. He called it one of the sport’s most puzzling long-term issues.
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Former quarterback Chase Daniel wrote what many are thinking. “This is the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE…..we can’t be doing the replacement refs thing again. Even considering this again is insane. We already saw how that played out in 2012, and it took one national TV disaster to fix it. This isn’t just about missed calls….It impacts protections, tempo, communication… you’re not tweaking officiating, you’re changing the entire game.”
The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen also referenced the 2012 controversy and suggested another version of the “Fail Mary” could be coming.
ESPN’s Pat McAfee took a firm stance as well. “NOPE. WE CAN’T BE DOING REPLACEMENT HIGH SCHOOL REFS IN THE NFL AGAIN. @NFL, time to start the retired player pipeline. FOR THE GOOD OF BALL.”
NFL analyst Warren Sharp also raised concerns about the financial stakes tied to officiating. He questioned how the league could allow games to be decided by a group of roughly 150 small-college officials in an age when billions of dollars are wagered on the NFL annually. Sharp’s comment stressed the risk of inconsistent officiating in a league where outcomes carry massive betting implications.
This remains a contingency plan tied to negotiations and has not been implemented. Still, the reaction shows how strong the resistance is across the football world. The memory of 2012 still resonates. The league now faces pressure to reach a deal and avoid a repeat of one of the most criticized stretches in modern NFL history.
