The Pittsburgh Steelers were certainly the beneficiaries of some favorable calls during a Week 14 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Most notably, Isaiah Likely looked to have secured a touchdown late in the contest, only for it to be overturned because he did not complete a true football act after hauling in the catch in the end zone. Joey Porter Jr. did a great job sticking with the play and working to knock it out of the tight end's hands; however, it stirred up controversy throughout the media. Most weeks, it appears as if the officials in any and all games are under intense scrutiny.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. works to jar the ball loose from Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely as the two battle it out in the end zone during a professional football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
Make no mistake about it; officiating in the NFL is not an easy job. Fans have the luxury of seeing everything on instant reply and slowed down, while the referees are tasked with making quick decisions in live atmospheres. It would not be a shock if the pinstripes are growing increasingly tired of catching a ton of heat for something the majority of people couldn't do.
Back in 2012, the Referees Association (NFLRA) had some serious gripes with how the officials were being treated and it actually let to a lockout. This resulted in replacements that were clearly nowhere near as good as the individuals that were truly qualified. Unfortunately for the Steelers and the rest of the NFL's organizations, that could potentially be coming again.
On Wednesday, ESPN's Kalyn Kahler reported that the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and officials is set to expire. This could potentially present an offseason of challenges that bleeds into the 2026 pre- and regular seasons.
"NFL teams were informed in a memo Wednesday that the collective bargaining agreement between the league and NFL Referees Association expires at the end of May, making this current season the final one of the existing agreement," Kahler wrote.
Roger Goodell and his entourage have attempted to negotiate new terms for some time now, but Kahler reported that there have been no successful agreements, leading to plenty of speculation.
"The memo, sent by NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent and general counsel Larry Ferazani, said the league has been "engaged in bargaining with the NFLRA to extend the current agreement since the summer of 2024, and to date, those discussions have been unsuccessful.""
There are a number of changes the league is looking to make, including longer probationary periods to remove underperforming referees, as well as rewarding performance so only the very best receive bonuses at the end of each season, per Kahler.
Kirby Lee / Imagn Images
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the field as he attends an NFL International Series game between the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Fans will actually appreciate what the NFL is trying to accomplish because Goodell and co. are trying to hold officials more accountable. The executive director of the NFLRA, Scott Green, took a little bit of a dig at the league for leaking the information about the CBA's near-expiration.
""We look forward to discussing that with them," Green told ESPN. "It's not really helpful to do it by way of the media at this point.""
The last thing that anyone wants is another stint with replacement officials. That time period in 2012, although it was only for a small portion of the regular season, was miserable for fans. With it being roughly 13 years ago, many forget just how much the true professionals were missed in that timeframe. If there is a legitimate holdout, no fan base will known when/if its team could be affected in a meaningful contest.
Justin Berl / Associated Press
NFL referee John Hussey stands on the field as he prepares to blow his whistle while he officiating a Steelers game in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Thankful For Officiating In Week 14
Regardless of what rule changes could potentially come out of Pittsburgh's win in Baltimore, there is no doubt that the current leader of the AFC North is happy that nearly everything went its way in Week 14. There was plenty of time left when the Likely debacle happened, but it most certainly changed the course of the game when it was ruled an incomplete pass.
Do you think the Steelers and rest of the NFL's teams are worried about an officiating lockout? Let us know in the comments below!
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