The NFL is planning to hire replacement referees this spring due to their ongoing labor dispute with the NFLRA according to reports. Tom Pelissero was on it first.
The NFL plans to begin hiring replacement officials before the May 31 expiration of its labor deal and deploy them in training camps to have them ready if no agreement is struck with the NFLRA.
As one source said today: “Our direction (from owners) is not to be unprepared.” pic.twitter.com/XNDv5d8om4
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 30, 2026
The last time this happened in 2012, the beginning of the league’s season was marred by controversial calls, which Seattle Seahawks fans should remember all too well.
The infamous “Fail Mary” game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle, which was broadcast nationally on Monday Night Football, took over the headlines surrounding the league. That was Week 3 of that season, and after that nationally televised game and controversial call became the main story in the league, the NFL quickly moved to get their top of the line officials back.
CBS Sports reported that the league is also looking to have their centralized officiating command center “weigh in” on calls in real time, which one can only imagine the possible perception of.
This will be a tough spot for the NFL. They and their referees are at a standstill, but both sides clearly feel it’s worth taking to this point. Officiating is already scrutinized enough in the digital age, but it’ll only be magnified with another “replacement refs” saga.
They’ll reportedly be hiring 150-180 from different levels of college football.
With no progress being made with the current referees, there is a belief that the NFL is likely to soon hire 150–180 officials from DI, DII, and DIII colleges as replacement refs to prepare for the upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/X2wBebJkBi
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 30, 2026
One can only imagine what this next season holds after this news, but the only sure thing is that the criticism will be flying in from all corners of the discourse.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Replacement refs looming for NFL, sparking 2012 ‘Fail Mary’ flashbacks