NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The NFL Referees Association and the league remain deadlocked in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement.
If the talks become contentious and stretch into the coming months, the league could again turn to replacement referees until an agreement is reached, a possibility first reported by Pro Football Talk. ESPN reviewed emails saying the NFL has begun “laying the groundwork” to potentially use replacement referees for the upcoming season.
If substitutions are used, it will mark the first time unconventional referees have been used since 2012. The contingency plan has been scrutinized by ESPN college football analyst Pat McAfee.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Pat McAfee takes the stage at “ESPN College GameDay” prior to the University of Oklahoma-Michigan college football game in Norman, Okla., on Sept. 6, 2025. (IMAGIN)
“No, we can’t replace high school refs in the nfl again,” wrote the host of the “Pat McAfee Show” on X in response to a report that replacement refs are being pushed for the 2026 season.
McAfee stressed the importance of NFL officials, stressing accountability and a commitment to the game.
“What we need is for these umpires to understand that they’re not perfect. We want them to adapt with the modern technology. We want them to benefit the game, not just benefit each other. Come on umpires, we need (you). …. We need you to care about the game. We need you to have a little bit of feeling. We need (you) to what’s a ball out there, and a little bit we really appreciate it.”
NFL OFFICIAL UNDER BAND TO AWARD PACKERS TIMEOUT AFTER APPARENT FALSE START
The labor agreement between the NFL and the referees’ union expires in May. McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts player, cited the NFL’s 2012 officiating controversy, when replacement refs were used and “Fail Mary” unfolded.
Fans greet the regular officials as they return to the football field before the Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on September 3, 2012 in Buffalo, New York. (Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
“Those were terrible days in the NFL. I was there, I wasn’t there for the f—–g Fail Mary, it was stupid. Like the littlest things, though,” he added. “Punt, you kick the ball out of bounds, the refs tell where the ball goes out of bounds. I got a f—-g youth ref, okay, because no college refs would do that.”
The 2012 replacement umpires were largely drawn from lower-level college officials and minor professional leagues, including the Arena League. The “Fail Mary” play happened during a “Monday Night Football” game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle won on a controversial simultaneous possession ruling on an end-zone play late in the game.
The NFL shield logo on the field at SoFi Stadium on November 25, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/magn Images)
“That can’t happen. But we also can’t just hand complete control and lack of accountability to these referees. We have to work together for the good of the ball,” McAfee concluded.
Last year, the NFL signaled its intention to strengthen officiating through greater accountability and performance standards, saying it “remained focused on implementing changes to the agreement in ways that will improve the performance of our game officials, increase accountability and ensure that the highest-performing officials officiate our highest-profile games.”
Meanwhile, the NFLRA has reportedly resisted at least some proposed changes, preferring the status quo.
