Overview
- The NFL and the NFL Referees Association have ratified a multi-year CBA that formally allows up to 12 in‑season “swing” or practice‑squad officials, with four slots reserved for college officials.
- Practice‑squad members will be embedded with specific crews, travel to game sites, and be available to replace injured or underperforming officials or to get regular‑season reps for development.
- The deal codifies expanded training—14 offseason dates—shortens parts of the offseason dark period for lower‑tier officials, and establishes a four‑tier evaluation system with evaluations delivered three times per season.
- To support the program the league doubled coach coordinators from eight to 16 and guaranteed swing officials pay for at least eight games, with extra pay for additional assignments.
- Observers and former officials praised the structure but warned rollout will be phased and may be incomplete by the 2026 season start, citing past unfulfilled 2019 CBA promises and concerns about staffing, travel logistics and whether the changes will yield real on‑field improvements.