The NFL’s contingency planning for the 2026 season now includes a major shift in how games could be administered if the league has to use replacement officials.

With the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association set to expire May 31, league officials have begun contacting college officiating supervisors to compile a list of about 150 potential replacements. At the same time, the competition committee is finalizing proposed rule changes that would move more authority for enforcement and game administration to the league office, including giving the Art McNally Gameday Central command center in New York City expanded power to enforce certain penalties, particularly those tied to health and safety, if replacement crews are needed.

The rule proposals are expected to be discussed at the NFL’s annual meeting beginning March 29 in Phoenix.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

In the league’s first public comment on the replacement-officials contingency, NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said the league has been “compelled” to prepare for the possibility that no deal is reached before the current agreement expires. Miller’s statement also outlined the league’s position on why negotiations have stalled.

“In almost two years of negotiations,” Miller said, “the union has made no effort to work with us on a goal we should all share — ensuring an officiating culture that’s centered around performance and accountability.” Miller added: “We will continue to engage at the bargaining table in the hope of reaching an agreement that strengthens officiating overall and is ultimately best for the game. However, given the union’s refusal to discuss material terms and the rapidly approaching expiration of the current agreement, we have been compelled to take steps to ensure football continues uninterrupted this season.”

The command-center component is the most significant part of the contingency plan described so far. Under the concept being discussed, league employees in New York could take on responsibilities that typically belong to on-field officials, including enforcement of safety-related penalties, to help mitigate the inexperience of replacement crews at the NFL level.

The NFL has been down this road before. In 2012, the league used replacement officials during a lockout that lasted 110 days and ended in Week 4 of the regular season. The current approach mirrors that in at least one way: the league is casting a wide net, focusing largely on lower-level college conferences while building an onboarding process that would begin in the spring and continue through the summer.

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

NFLRA executive director Scott Green said he was surprised the league would consider replacement officials given the league’s experience in 2012. He also raised two concerns directly with the league: first, he said replacement crews could face increased vulnerability to gamblers, and second, he questioned player safety with officials who have not previously experienced the size and speed of the NFL game.

The NFL’s answer to the safety argument, according to the planning details, is that the command center can help ensure enforcement of health-and-safety rules even if the on-field officials are learning the job in real time.

The financial stakes are not small, either. NFL officials are not full-time league employees, but the average official last season earned about $350,000 annually, according to sources, through a compensation structure that includes game fees, bonuses, meeting fees, preparation fees, and other benefits. The league has offered a 10% increase in game fees across the board in the regular season and up to 30% for those who work the Super Bowl, according to the same reporting.

The league is also seeking changes to performance and development rules, including redirecting bonus money toward higher-performing officials and increasing the probationary period for new officials (currently three years). The NFLRA has been seeking a shorter probation period, according to the reporting.

For now, these plans are explicitly described as contingencies, not a final determination that replacement officials will be used. But with May 31 approaching and the annual meeting set to discuss the rule framework, the league is effectively building an emergency bridge: if the on-field crews change, the league wants the command center to carry more of the load.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.