The National Football League has begun onboarding a slate of potential replacement officials as its collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association nears expiration. In a memo from senior vice president of officiating Perry Fewell, the league said several candidates have cleared background checks and will soon receive physical examinations before June 1 deadline.

Training for the replacements will kick off around May 1 with online and in‑person sessions led by league officiating supervisors. The CBA expires on May 31, and teams will receive a tentative schedule shortly, detailing which officials can work at OTAs and minicamps starting June 1 if no agreement is reached before the season begins.

Negotiations have stalled for almost two years, with the league offering a six‑year deal that averages annual raises of 6.45%. The average NFL official earned $385,000 in 2025, but the union resists changes such as extending probation from three to five years and altering playoff seniority rules that would impact season operations for teams.

Owners, including Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones, met last week and made some progress, but owners’ rule changes last month granted New York City staff authority to assist with video feeds if replacements are used. As the NFL pushes forward, the union’s ability to secure a timely agreement faces growing economic and operational challenges during the upcoming training camps and preseason games, which could disrupt team preparations and player development.