Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Dread it. Run from it. But whether we like it or not, it appears that replacement referees are set to return to the NFL for the 2026 season.
According to ESPN, NFL owners are becoming increasing concerned with the state of labor negotiations with the NFL Referees Assocation and also preparing to hire over 100 replacement refs for the upcoming season.
The news comes only days after ESPN’s Pat McAfee went on a lengthy rant urging the league to do everything possible to avoid a repeat of the situation which last occurred in 2012.
“Nope! Can’t be doing that! Can’t be doing that,” McAfee said on an X. “What we need is these refs to understand that they’re not perfect. We want them to adapt with the modern technology. We want them to be for the good of the game, not just for the good of each other, okay?
“Come on refs, we need you. But we also need you not to be a– in the biggest moments. We need you to care about the game; we need you to have a little bit of feel. We need you to be committed to what ball is. And there’s a lot of you out there who are, and we appreciate that.
“But if you’re just going to hold that line with the union because you want to hold the NFL hostage, and you’re going to let ball have what we had with high school f—— refs calling games?”
It Doesn’t Appear Pat McAfee Will Get His Wish On NFL Replacement Refeees
Unfortunately for McAfee, and perhaps NFL teams, coaches, and fans, the referees seemingly hold all the leverage here.
That is why, according to the ESPN report, “the NFL began compiling a list of college-level officials to recruit earlier this month, and owners are expected this week to approve a sweeping set of replay enhancements to support replacement officials in preseason and regular-season games.”
According to a league source, those refs would begin training on May 1.
So when your favorite team loses a game because of a blown call this Fall, just know that the NFL had an opportunity to avoid all of this.