The NFL is preparing to hire around 180 replacement referees for the upcoming season, as a lockout of its standard officials appears imminent. These replacements will be pulled from Divisions I, II, and III at the college level and trained before the new season begins. NFL fans who have been around long enough remember the last referee lockout during the 2012 season, which lasted three weeks. It was disastrous, to say the least, with constant egregious errors—arguably even more than those made by the regular officials.
The debacle reached its peak on Monday Night Football in Week 3 between the Packers and Seahawks, where the refs blew the game. Seattle threw a Hail Mary as time expired in regulation. A Green Bay defensive back caught the ball in the back of the end zone, securing it to his chest. A Seattle receiver tried to get his hands on it and wrestle it away, but the Seahawks player did not have clear possession. Two officials stood nearby as they battled in the end zone—one signaling an interception and the other signaling a touchdown.
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The play went to review, and the officials somehow determined that the receiver had possession of the ball, awarding Seattle a touchdown and a 14–12 win instead of a 12–6 loss. It was such an embarrassment on a primetime stage, on a game-deciding play, that the NFL was practically forced to give in and end the lockout. The regular referees returned the following week, and some fans even made signs and cheered them during games.
Because of how poorly that situation unfolded 13 years ago, NFL fans are understandably worried about it happening again—but it now feels all but inevitable. Officiating controversy was a major talking point across the league in 2022, 2023, and 2024, though it cooled off somewhat last season. After taking a step in the right direction, the NFL risks taking two steps back if it moves forward with replacement referees.
