We have four months to go before the first NFL preseason game of the 2026 season, but there’s one concern that could have a league-wide impact just as it did 14 years ago.
The NFL has not come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement with the Referees Association. If a deal is not reached by May 31, then there will be a work stoppage akin to what happened in the 2012 season, which famously had replacement referees through the first three weeks of the regular season. The league is already
making replacement ref plans as a contingency.
Of course, the Seattle Seahawks were involved in two of the more notable replacement ref moments. In their Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle was erroneously granted a fourth timeout during the final possession of the game. The replacement refs did redeem themselves two weeks later when they correctly ruled that Golden Tate caught this Hail Mary touchdown from Russell Wilson to beat the Green Bay Packers.
The lockout ended shortly thereafter, bringing back the regular referees uninterrupted up to this point.
What’s interesting about a potential lockout this go-round is what the NFL is looking to do should they have to use the replacement refs again.
According to verbiage the NFL released Tuesday, league staff members could alert a replacement referee if they see clear and obvious evidence of an uncalled foul for roughing the passer, intentional grounding or an act that would normally lead to disqualification.
Those staff members would also be permitted to alert replacement referees that a flag shouldn’t have been thrown if there is clear and obvious video evidence that “at least one element of the foul called is not present,” according to the verbiage. Fouls eligible for this alert include: twisting, pulling, or turning the face mask; roughing the passer; intentional grounding; horse-collar tackles; illegal contact; pass interference; and disqualification.
It’s expected that these replay changes will be approved at the annual league meeting in Arizona, with the emphasis that this will only be implemented if replacement refs are indeed needed when the season starts. It’s like centralized officiating but only for the replacements, not for the regular officials who are scrutinized on a weekly basis.
New replacement officials will begin training on May 1, which is a couple of months earlier than the last time this situation arose.
It’s a shame the Seahawks aren’t hosting the Packers again this regular season.
