NFL, referees agree to 7-year agreement, avoid lockout

May 8 (UPI) -- The NFL and the NFL Referees Association reached a seven-year collective bargaining agreement, avoiding a lockout in 2026, the parties announced Friday.

The agreement will run through the 2032 season. The current agreement expires May 31. The NFLRA board of directors approved the new agreement, which the NFLRA membership ratified.

"This agreement is a testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating," NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said.

"It also speaks to the game officials' relentless pursuit of improvement and officiating excellence. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the game."

Officials said the deal includes economic, performance and accountability issues, with a "shared goal of ensuring the outstanding officiating that the game demands."

"We see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make our game better," NFLRA president Carl Cheffers said. "It is good to get these negotiations behind us so we can focus on preparing for the 2026 season."

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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 10:58 AM.