NFL, Referees Close to New Deal

After a lengthy stalemate, negotiations have reached a critical point with the NFL Referees Association planning to vote on a new deal, according to an AP source. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on May 31, and the league had begun onboarding replacement officials as negotiations stalled.

The NFL has offered a 6.45% annual growth rate in compensation over a six-year deal, while the NFLRA is seeking 10% plus $2.5 million in marketing fees. The two sides have been negotiating since summer 2024, with the NFLRA executive director disputing reported compensation figures. A similar stalemate in 2012 resulted in a 110-day lockout and use of replacement referees. orlando-books.blog