The NFL has yet to reach a labor agreement with the players, but it has for the referees.

The NFL Referees Association announced the finalization of a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement that runs through May 31st, 2026. The current agreement was set to run through May 2020.

The agreement was unanimously approved by the NFLRA Board of Directors and ratified by a vote of NFLRA membership on Saturday, September 28th.

“This agreement solidifies the working partnership between the league and officials toward the common goal of developing and training the best officials in the world,” said Troy Vincent, the NFL's Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “We will continue working together to provide fans, players and coaches with officiating performance that meets the highest standards demanded by the game.”

Details of the deal were not provided in their statement.

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“It was a mutual and cooperative effort that took over a year and a half, and the
outcome is seven years of certainty for the league and our officials,” said NFLRA
Executive Director Scott Green. “We appreciate Troy Vincent and his staff for
recognizing that working together to find solutions is the best course of action to reach a long-term agreement.”

NFLRA President Tony Steratore, now in his 20th season as an official, chimed in, saying:

“We see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make our game better. We all must keep pace with the speed and skill of the players, not to mention the increased use of technology. It is good to get these negotiations behind us.”

Now that their contract is dealt with, referees can begin shaking off their early-season rust. Through the first three weeks of play, they haven't made many friends as they deal with a crisis of holding calls and attempt to figure out the new pass interference rules.