The NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) has officially ratified a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement with the NFL on Friday, according to Kevin Seifert and Kalyn Kahler of ESPN (per @AdamSchefter).
The agreement concludes a multiyear negotiation process and effectively eliminates the possibility of a work stoppage or the use of replacement officials for the upcoming 2026 season. The new pact will run through the 2032 NFL season, providing long-term labor stability for the league's officiating crews. The ratification follows a vote by the NFLRA membership and approval from the union's board of directors.
While specific financial terms were not immediately disclosed, the league and the union confirmed in a joint statement that the deal addresses a "wide range of issues including economics, performance, and accountability." Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, stated that the agreement is a "testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating."
The ratification comes just weeks before the previous agreement was set to expire on May 31. Had a deal not been reached, the league had reportedly begun the process of identifying replacement officials, a scenario that has now been avoided for the foreseeable future.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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