NFL Owners Join Negotiations as League and Referees Resume CBA Talks

Owners bring real authority to the table as the two sides remain far apart on key issues.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:48pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented football game, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange conveying the intricate dynamics of the labor negotiations.The complex negotiations between the NFL and its referees' union require a delicate balance of competing interests and perspectives.NYC Today

The NFL and NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) have resumed negotiations this week on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), with several league owners now joining the negotiations. The previous round of talks had collapsed due to the NFLRA's position that the NFL's team lacked the authority to make real decisions. With owners now at the table, the hope is that significant progress can be made to bridge the wide gap between the two sides on issues like compensation growth and benefits.

Why it matters

A prolonged standoff between the NFL and its referees could lead to the league using replacement officials, as happened in 2012, which was widely criticized for negatively impacting the quality and integrity of games. The involvement of owners is seen as a way to inject more urgency and decision-making power into the negotiations.

The details

The NFL has offered the NFLRA roughly 6.45% annual compensation growth over six years, but the NFLRA is seeking over 10% as well as $2.5 million in marketing fees and improved healthcare benefits. The NFLRA's executive director, Scott Green, has accused the league of providing "false and misleading information" during the negotiations. The league has already approved a rule allowing the New York replay center to correct clear officiating errors in case of a work stoppage, and is reportedly recruiting replacement officials from lower-level college programs.

  • The NFL and NFLRA resumed negotiations this week.
  • The previous round of talks collapsed about two weeks ago.

The players

NFL

The National Football League, the professional American football league.

NFL Referees Association (NFLRA)

The labor union representing the on-field officials who oversee NFL games.

Scott Green

The executive director of the NFLRA.

JC Tretter

A former player representative for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), who has publicly opposed the use of replacement officials.

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What they’re saying

“false and misleading information”

— Scott Green, Executive Director, NFLRA

“can't be replaced by less experienced crews or handled remotely”

— JC Tretter, Former Player Representative, NFLPA

What’s next

If this week's negotiation sessions do not result in significant progress, the league may move forward with using replacement officials, which could lead to a repeat of the controversial 2012 replacement referee situation.

The takeaway

The involvement of NFL owners in the CBA negotiations with the referees' union is a high-stakes attempt to break the impasse and avoid a potential work stoppage that could undermine the integrity and quality of the league's games. The outcome of these talks will have major implications for the upcoming NFL season.