The NFL is preparing to hire and train replacement officials in the coming weeks as contract negotiations with the NFL Referees Association have reached an impasse, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The league and the NFLRA have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since summer 2024, with the current contract set to expire on May 31. The NFL has offered a 6.45% annual compensation increase over six years, while sources indicate the union is seeking 10% plus $2.5 million in marketing fees. However, NFLRA executive director Scott Green disputed these figures, calling them "not accurate."

Key sticking points include the NFL's desire to tie compensation to performance, with only high-performing regular season officials sharing in year-end bonuses. The league also wants greater flexibility in postseason assignments, while the current agreement factors in seniority for playoff games. Additionally, the NFL seeks to shorten the "dark period" - a roughly three-month stretch between the Super Bowl and May 15 when the league has no communication with officials.

The NFL has proposed hiring some full-time officials, but Green said the union is resisting what he characterized as requests for "full-time pay and part-time hours." Green noted that previous full-time official programs in 2017, 2019 and 2020 ended due to management issues.

In his statement, Green emphasized that NFL officials are "substantially under-compensated when compared to baseball and basketball umpires and referees" despite working for "the wealthiest sports league in America." He also criticized the league's performance pay claims, noting that officials who worked championship games were paid less than for regular season games.

The situation mirrors the 2012 lockout that lasted 110 days and resulted in replacement officials working the first three weeks of the season, including several controversial calls. NFL owners are expected to vote this week on a contingency proposal that would allow the replay center in New York to advise on-field officials on certain missed calls if replacement referees are used.