Tag: referees

Jan 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; NFL line judge Jeff Seeman (left) and referee Shawn Smith (14) discuss a call during the fourth quarter between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Report: NFL referees union schedules vote on new CBA

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL Referees Association has scheduled a vote for Thursday night on ratifying a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

Negotiations between the league and union have progressed, according to the report, with the current CBA slated to expire on May 31. Specifics on the agreement were not yet known, with the league declining comment to ESPN and the NFLRA not immediately responding to a request.

Two years of negotiations had led only to a stalemate last winter and the NFL preparing for the prospect of replacement referees for the 2026 season. The league reportedly began compiling a list of replacements — mostly from the low-college ranks — and plans to start training them by May.

Both the NFL Players Association and the NFLRA voiced concerns last month about player safety if replacement referees were used.

As recently as a month ago, league sources told ESPN that owners were “alarmed” by the current state of the negotiations with the NFLRA. One source said it would take “an act of God” to bridge the economic gaps between the two sides before the CBA expires.

The league had offered a six-year deal with an average annual raise of 6.45%, per ESPN. The average NFL official earned $385,000 in 2025.

NFL owners in late March approved a one-year change to the rulebook in regard to officiating. If replacement referees are used in a game during the upcoming season, the league’s command center in New York can adjust any calls made or not made by officials on the field in real time.

Changes can be made to both calls that were missed on the field and calls that were made but deemed incorrect.

If the CBA is fully ratified by May 31, the new rules would not apply.

In a 2012 game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks with replacement officials, the Seahawks won on a last-second pass to the end zone where players from both teams were deemed to have simultaneous possession. But the NFL later admitted that a Seahawks offensive pass interference penalty was missed that would have given the Packers the victory.

After using replacement officials for the first two weeks of the 2012 season, the league ended the lockout of officials two days after the Packers-Seahawks game.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a referee picking up a penalty flag during the second quarter of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

NFLPA voices safety concerns over replacement refs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL Players Association and NFL Referees Association have responded to the potential use of replacement officials this season by voicing concerns about player safety.

ESPN reported earlier this week that the league has begun compiling a list of replacement referees — mostly from the low-college ranks — and plans to start training them by May 1. The collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL RA is set to expire on May 31.

NFLPA executive director JC Tretter and NFLRA executive director Scott Green met Tuesday to discuss their concerns and issued a joint statement Wednesday on social media: “Experienced officials matter for player safety.”

“Player safety requires trained, professional officials on the field,” Tretter said. “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.”

“Professional officials are trained to control the game in real time,” Green added. “They are the first responders on the field — maintaining order, enforcing rules, and preventing dangerous situations from escalating.”

League sources told ESPN that owners are “alarmed” by the current state of the negotiations with the NFLRA. One source said it would take “an act of God” to bridge the economic gaps between the two sides before the CBA expires.

The NFL has offered a six-year deal with an average annual raise of 6.45%, per ESPN. The average NFL official earned $385,000 in 2025.

“We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached that avoids past disruptions and ensures the game continues to be officiated at the highest level,” Green added.

The concern comes as the NFL made a one-year change to the rule book this week in regard to officiating. If replacement referees are used in a game during the upcoming season, the league’s command center can now adjust any calls made or not made by officials on the field in real time.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a referee picking up a penalty flag during the second quarter of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Report: NFL to begin hiring replacement referees

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With talks stalled between the league and the referees’ union, NFL owners reportedly have authorized the hiring of replacement officials.

League sources told ESPN on Sunday that owners are “alarmed” by the current state of the negotiations with the NFL Referees Association.

The NFL has compiled a list of college-level referees to recruit and training could begin as early as May 1, according to ESPN. At the league meetings this week, owners are expected to approve a “sweeping set of replay enhancements” to support the replacement officials during preseason and regular-season action.

Once the training process begins, reaching a new deal with the union becomes a greater challenge, per the report. That means there is about a one-month window to work out their differences.

One league source told ESPN it would take “an act of God” to bridge the economic gaps between the two sides before the current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLRA expires on May 31.

NFLRA executive director Scott Green did not respond to a request for comment on the report.

The NFL has offered a six-year deal with an average annual raise of 6.45%, per ESPN. The average NFL official earned $385,000 in 2025.

Starting the training of replacement officials on May 1 could potentially avoid issues that arose during the last lockout in 2012, when the league waited until July to prepare the replacements.

“To expect people to jump from college to the pros and change in speed in that short of time is destined to be a challenge to succeed,” a league source told ESPN. “We’re not going to do that.

“There will be no panic, and we have begun preparations for the expiration. We have to do it. Otherwise, it would be just gross negligence.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 23, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is hit as he makes a catch by Carolina Panthers cornerback Keith Taylor Jr. (28) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

NFL: Officials were not seeking Mike Evans’ autograph

Posted on | by Field Level Media

NFL officials Jeff Lamberth and Tripp Sutter were not seeking the autograph of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans when they crossed paths in the postgame tunnel Sunday.

The NFL said Tuesday following an investigation into the matter that there was no violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement prohibiting referees and game officials from “asking players, coaches or any other team personnel for autographs or memorabilia.”

Video of both game officials stopping and handing a small piece of white paper to Evans minutes after the Buccaneers’ loss to the Carolina Panthers went viral on social media.

NFL investigators began talking to the Buccaneers and the officiating crew Monday.

“After speaking with the individuals involved, we have confirmed that the postgame interaction between Jeff Lambert, Tripp Sutter and Mike Evans did not involve a request by the game officials for an autograph,” the NFL said. “Both Lamberth and Sutter have been reminded of the importance of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety when interacting with players, coaches and club staff on gameday– including during the pregame and postgame time periods.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) on the field before the game against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Dak Prescott apologizes for ref comment after Cowboys’ loss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott apologized Tuesday for postgame remarks that appeared to support Cowboys fans who threw trash at referees after the team’s playoff loss Sunday.

“I deeply regret the comments I made regarding the officials after the game on Sunday,” Prescott said in a series of social media posts. “I was caught up in the emotion of a disappointing loss and my words were uncalled for and unfair.

“I hold the NFL Officials in the highest regard and have always respected their professionalism and the difficulty of their jobs. The safety of everyone who attends a game or participates on the field of a sporting event is a very serious matter. That was a mistake on my behalf, and I am sorry.”

Prescott’s Cowboys lost to the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 in their wild-card matchup. The Cowboys, who were driving at the end of the game with no timeouts left, ran out of time to get off one more play because an official needed to touch the ball before the snap.

Some Dallas fans threw garbage onto to the field in protest. Cowboys defensive lineman Demarcus Lawrence held up his helmet to block an incoming bottle as he left the field.

In his postgame press conference, Prescott said it was “sad” that fans were throwing trash at the team. But when a reporter said the trash was aimed at the officiating crew as it left the field, the quarterback responded, “Credit to them, then. Yeah. Credit to them.”

Earlier Tuesday, the National Basketball Referees Association spoke out, calling for the NFL to “take action” in light of Prescott’s remark.

“The NBRA condemns the comments by Dak Prescott condoning violence against game officials,” the statement read. “As an NFL leader, he should know better. We encourage the NFL to take action to discourage this deplorable behavior in the future.”

The NFL Referees Association, however, has made no such statement.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NFL referee Jerome Boger (23) in action during the fourth quarter of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Chiefs won 42-37. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

First all-Black officiating crew to work Monday night

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For the first time in NFL history, an all-Black officiating crew will work next Monday night’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and Buccaneers in Tampa.

Referee Jerome Boger will lead the historic crew, which includes umpire Barry Anderson, down judge Julian Mapp, line judge Carl Johnson, side judge Dale Shaw, field judge Anthony Jeffries and back judge Greg Steed.

“This historic Week 11 crew is a testament to the countless and immeasurable contributions of Black officials to the game, their exemplary performance, and to the power of inclusion that is the hallmark of this great game,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said.

The NFL normally assembles its 17 officiating crews prior to the season and works to keep them together in order to promote teamwork and communication. The crews were organized geographically this year to reduce travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All of the officials for the Monday night game are regular members of Boger’s crew except for Johnson and Steed, who were pulled from other crews.

–Field Level Media