PHOENIX – It’s still too early to bank on replacement refs returning to NFL fields this season as negotiations with the referees union remain stuck in the mud. Yet with neither side budging in talks ...

One of the most highly criticized aspects of the 2025-2026 NFL season was the officiating. It felt like every week there was a game that came down to the wire, and a controversial call sent social ...

Stalled negotiations between the league and its officials could mean replacement refs to start the 2026 season. It can’t be worse than last time, right? Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic ...

Being an NFL official may be an unforgiving job, but it's also a fairly lucrative one. While NFL referees are only part-time employees, the league pays them a solid chunk of change to perform the role ...

PHOENIX — It’s still too early to bank on replacement refs returning to NFL fields this season as negotiations with the referees union remain stuck in the mud. NFL officials talk between plays during ...