NFL, referees agree to new 7-year CBA

NFL fans won't have to see replacement refs anytime soon.

The league and NFL Referees Association reached a seven-year collective bargaining agreement on Saturday that will run through May 31, 2026.

The current CBA was scheduled to expire in May 2020.

"We see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make our game better," NFLRA president Tony Steratore said in a statement. "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."

The new deal will replace the one that emerged from the 2012 lockout, which lasted three weeks into the regular season. Replacement referees were forced to officiate contests during that time.