NFL, referees reach new deal, avoid 'Fail Mary' repeat

The NFL and its Referees Association reached a seven-year labor deal, avoiding a potential replacement referee situation for 2026.
Yardbarker

The NFL is planning to use replacement referees to avoid another fiasco like the 'Fail Mary'

The National Football League anticipates a challenging scenario for the 2026 season and wants to avoid a repeat of a major controversy like the infamous “Fail Mary.” With this in mind, the league is ...
The Daily Gazette

Avoiding another ‘Fail Mary’: Inside the tense NFL vs. referees labor dispute

PHOENIX — With the NFL and referees union at a negotiating impasse, the league has put in place a safety net in case replacement game officials are required for the upcoming season. Team owners ...
Front Office Sports on MSN

NFL nears referee deal to avoid another 'Fail Mary' disaster

The public vitriol between the two sides has lessened considerably.
The Boston Globe

Fail Mary Part 2? Negotiations turning nasty as NFL and its referees barrel toward a lockout.

The NFL hasn’t had a whiff of a player lockout talk since August 2010. But the 2026 season could be affected by a lockout — of the officials. The league’s labor agreement with the NFL Referees ...
AOL

Avoiding another 'Fail Mary': Inside the tense NFL vs. referees labor dispute

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, left, speaks with referees during a game against the Rams at SoFi Stadium in December. (Harry How / Getty Images) With the NFL and referees union at a negotiating ...