NFL takes action to ensure the Fail Mary Packers fans will never forget won’t happen again in 2026 with key rule change
League is bracing for a scenario with replacement refs to start the regular season in 2026, but at least now there is a mechanism to protect games from huge and obvious mistakes.
The NFL is preparing for a chaotic scenario where owners and referees won’t agree to a collective bargaining agreement before the regular season starts in September. Earlier this week, the league approved a one-year rule which would allow the replay center in New York to correct “clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game” in case of a work stoppage involving the NFL Referees Association.
Reportedly, the NFL has offered a 6.45% year over year salary raise for the life of the agreement, but referees want 10%. There are other differences, and the league is probably right about those — like more training and education for officials, while the refs want to limit reaction to bad performances.
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The Packers know how bad things can be
This temporary rule ultimately wants to avoid a scenario like the one the Green Bay Packers had to go through back in 2012, during the most recent referee stoppage.
Fourteen years ago, the NFL hired replacement officials for the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, until that absurd moment happened on “Monday Night Football” and forced the owners to concede.
The Packers were leading 12-7 until the final play of the game. Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary, which was clearly intercepted by Packers safety M.D. Jennings. However, the two officials who were close to the play signaled different calls — one indicated a touchdown catch for wide receiver Golden Tate.
After some discussion, the replacement refs called simultaneous possession, resulting in a Seahawks game-winning touchdown.
How the process works now
While there isn’t any type of agreement between the league and its officials, the NFL will build a list with 150 referees from small colleges. They will have an onboarding process in April and a four-day clinic in May. If there’s no agreement by training camp, the replacement refs will go on visits with teams before the regular season games.
Back in 2012, the NFL hired referees from lower-level colleges and minor professional leagues, including the Arena Football League — at that time, there wasn’t a stronger spring league like the current version of the UFL.
Ultimately, this is a scenario that doesn’t make sense for any part involved. The league and the refs have five months to make it work, and fans don’t deserve what happened in Seattle on that infamous Monday night.
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