The NFLPA voted narrowly to approve an 11-year CBA, promising labor peace in the NFL through the '30 season and paving the way for the league’s first extension of the regular season since '78. Union members voted 1,019 for and 959 against, or 51.5% to 48.5%, with about 18% of members not voting. The remarkably close vote continues the pattern established at the NFLPA’s Exec Committee, which actually voted it down 6-5, and the board of player reps, which approved the deal 17-14.
The vote has immediate ramifications. Media industry sources expect the NFL to turn quickly to serious negotiations over the next round of media rights, and the new contract’s rules and wage increases for players go into effect immediately. Free agency and the new league year are set to begin Wednesday. Also, the deal allows the NFL playoffs to expand by one wild card team in each conference as soon as this season. The '20 salary cap will be $198.2M, up $10M over last year.
“We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We appreciate the tireless efforts of the members of the Management Council Executive Committee and the NFLPA leadership, both of whom devoted nearly a year to detailed, good faith negotiations to reach this comprehensive, transformative agreement.”
The final stages of these negotiations played out against the unprecedented economic and social upheaval caused by the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. Since NFL owners voted to approve the deal on Feb. 20, pushing the players into a final vote, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has declined by 21%, while every major sports league has stopped playing games.
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In an open letter published after voting closed Saturday night, NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith defended the deal, especially in light of that uncertainty. Economic uncertainty -- even before the coronavirus scare -- was the reason NFL owners pushed for a deal now, even though the old contract did not expire for another year. “No decision can be made in a vacuum and this union and its business are not immune from macro-economic factors, regardless of how successful our business has been over recent decades,” Smith wrote. “Do I believe that economic downturns and potential disruptions in our business -- some that have occurred in the past -- will affect players and owners equally? No, I do not.” He continued, "This is why I believe that the structure of this deal and the gains of this deal at this time best insulates us from these disproportionate impacts that might occur in five years, or those that manifested in the past 48 hours.”
The added 17th game will not come into play until '21 at the earliest, but it marks a major victory for owners, who have long eyed the new inventory as an easy way to boost revenue. Players fought the season expansion fiercely at times, and many of the union’s most vocal internal critics said negotiators did not get enough in exchange for the added wear and tear. Some of the key concessions won by players include:
- An increase of the total revenue share from 47% to 48% starting in 2021, with the potential to increase to 48.8% if the season is extended and media rights revenue hits certain thresholds. That is projected to shift $3-5B to players over the course of the deal.
- A 20% increase in the league minimum salary now, with further increases later in the deal.
- One fewer preseason game and fewer practices year-round.
- Better pensions for retirees, a network of health care facilities in NFL cities that can provide certain medical care for free.
- Relaxation of rules against marijuana use.
