NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement
The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is the governing document between the owners of the National Football League and the labor union of the NFL Players Association. Equivalent to "the Constitution of the NFL", it is important to have knowledge of the CBA, as it is the foundation for all of the operations and rules of the NFL.
Table of Contents
- Preamble
- Article 1: Definitions
- Article 2: Governing Agreement
- Section 1. Conflicts
- Section 2. Implementation
- Section 3. Management Rights
- Section 4. Scope of Agreement
- Section 5. Rounding
- Article 3: No Strike/Lockout/Suit
- Section 1. No Strike/Lockout
- Section 2. No Suit
- Section 3. Releases and Covenants Not to Sue
- Article 4: NFL Player Contract
- Section 1. Form
- Section 2. Term
- Section 3. Changes
- Section 4. Conformity
- Section 5. Notices, Prohibitions, etc.
- Section 6. Commissioner Disapproval
- Section 7. NFLPA Group Licensing Program
- Section 8. Good Faith Negotiation
- Section 9. Forfeiture of Salary
- Section 10. Return of Advanced Paragraph 5 Salary
- Article 5: Option Clauses
- Section 1. Prohibition
- Article 6: College Draft
- Section 1. Time of Draft
- Section 2. Number of Choices and Eligibility
- Section 3. Required Tender
- Section 4. Signing of Drafted Rookies
- Section 5. Other Professional Teams
- Section 6. Return to College
- Section 7. Assignment of Draft Rights
- Section 8. Subsequent Draft
- Section 9. No Subsequent Draft
- Section 10. Compensatory Draft Selections
- Section 11. Undrafted Rookies
- Section 12. Notice of Signing
- Article 7: Rookie Compensation and Rookie Compensation Pool
- Section 1. Definitions
- Section 2. Operation
- Section 3. Rookie Contracts
- Section 4. Proven Performance Escalator
- Section 5. Additional Terms
- Section 6. Performance Incentives
- Section 7. Fifth-Year Option for First Round Selections
- Section 8. Salary Cap Treatment
- Section 9. Rookie Redistribution Fund
- Article 8: Veterans With Fewer Than Three Accrued Seasons
- Article 9: Veteran Free Agency
- Section 1. Unrestricted Free Agents
- Section 2. Restricted Free Agents
- Section 3. Offer Sheet and Right of First Refusal Procedures
- Section 4. Expedited Arbitration
- Section 5. Individually Negotiated Limitations on Player Movement
- Section 6. Notices, Etc.
- Article 10: Franchise and Transition Players
- Section 1. Franchise Player Designations
- Section 2. Required Tender for Franchise Players
- Section 3. Transition Player Designations
- Section 4. Required Tender for Transition Players
- Section 5. Right of First Refusal for Transition Players
- Section 6. Lists
- Section 7. Salary Information
- Section 8. No Assignment
- Section 9. Franchise Player Designation Period
- Section 10. Transition Player Designation Period
- Section 11. Other Terms
- Section 12. Compensatory Draft Selection
- Section 13. Offer Sheets for Non-Exclusive Franchise and Transition Players
- Section 14. Signing Period for Transition Players
- Section 15. Signing Period for Franchise Players
- Article 11: Transition Rules
- Section 1. Applicability
- Section 2. Additional Salary Cap Room
- Section 3. Preexisting Contract Roster Provisions
- Section 4. 2020 League Year Calendar
- Article 12: Revenue Accounting and Calculation of the Salary Cap
- Section 1. All Revenues
- Section 2. Benefits
- Section 3. Accounting Reports & Projections
- Section 4. Stadium Credit
- Section 5. Joint Contribution Amount
- Section 6. Calculation of the Player Cost Amount and Salary Cap
- Section 7. [Omitted]
- Section 8. Guaranteed League-Wide Cash Spending
- Section 9. Minimum Team Cash Spending
- Section 10. Additional AR Accounting Rules
- Article 13: Salary Cap Accounting Rules
- Section 1. Calculation of the Salary Cap
- Section 2. Application of the Salary Cap
- Section 3. Calculation of Salary and Team Salary
- Section 4. Definition of “Salary”
- Section 5. Computation of Team Salary
- Section 6. Valuation of Player Contracts
- Section 7. 30% Rules
- Section 8. Renegotiations and Extensions
- Article 14: Enforcement of the Salary Cap and Rookie Compensation Pool
- Section 1. Undisclosed Terms
- Section 2. Circumvention
- Section 3. System Arbitrator Proceeding
- Section 4. Commissioner Disapproval
- Section 5. System Arbitrator Review
- Section 6. Sanctions
- Section 7. Revenue Circumvention
- Section 8. NFL Audit Rights
- Section 9. Prior Consultation
- Article 15: System Arbitrator
- Section 1. Appointment
- Section 2. Scope of Authority
- Section 3. Discovery
- Section 4. Compensation
- Section 5. Procedures
- Section 6. Selection of System Arbitrator
- Section 7. Selection of Appeals Panel
- Section 8. Procedure for Appeals
- Section 9. Decision
- Section 10. Confidentiality
- Article 16: Impartial Arbitrator
- Section 1. Selection
- Section 2. Scope of Authority
- Section 3. Effect of Rulings
- Section 4. Discovery
- Section 5. Compensation of Impartial Arbitrator
- Section 6. Procedures
- Section 7. Selection of Impartial Arbitrator
- Article 17: Anti-Collusion
- Section 1. Prohibited Conduct
- Section 2. Other Club Conduct
- Section 3. Club Discretion
- Section 4. League Disclosures
- Section 5. Enforcement of Anti-Collusion Provisions
- Section 6. Burden of Proof
- Section 7. Summary Judgment
- Section 8. Remedies
- Section 9. Computation of Damages
- Section 10. Player Election
- Section 11. Payment of Damages
- Section 12. Effect on Cap Computations
- Section 13. Effect of Salary Cap
- Section 14. No Reimbursement
- Section 15. Costs
- Section 16. Termination
- Section 17. Time Limits
- Section 18. Prior Conference
- Article 18: Certifications
- Section 1. Contract Certification
- Section 2. End of League Year Certification
- Section 3. False Certification
- Article 19: Consultation And Information Sharing
- Section 1. Salary Summaries
- Section 2. Consultation and Communications
- Section 3. Notice of Invalid Contract
- Section 4. Copies
- Article 20: Other Provisions
- Section 1. CFL Rule
- Section 2. Physically Unable to Perform
- Section 3. Nonfootball Injury
- Section 4. Roster Exemption
- Section 5. Other Professional Leagues
- Article 21: Offseason Workouts
- Section 1. Voluntary Workouts
- Section 2. Time Periods
- Section 3. Payment
- Section 4. Injuries
- Section 5. Miscellaneous
- Section 6. Pre-Training Camp Period
- Section 7. Rookie Premiere
- Section 8. Enforcement
- Section 9. Offseason Participation Contract
- Article 22: Minicamps
- Section 1. Number
- Section 2. Mandatory Veteran Minicamp
- Section 3. Voluntary Veteran Minicamp
- Section 4. Expenses
- Section 5. Contact
- Section 6. Injuries
- Section 7. Post-Draft Rookie Minicamp
- Section 8. Rookie Football Development Programs
- Section 9. Films
- Section 10. Enforcement
- Section 11. Participation Agreement
- Article 23: Preseason Training Camps
- Section 1. Definition
- Section 2. Room and Board
- Section 3. First-year Player Per Diem
- Section 4. Veteran Per Diem
- Section 5. Reporting
- Section 6. Five-Day On-Field Acclimation Period
- Section 7. Conduct of Practices
- Section 8. Number of Preseason Games
- Section 9. Expenses
- Section 10. Definition of “Preseason Training Camp”
- Section 11. Films
- Section 12. Enforcement
- Article 24: Regular Season and Postseason Practices
- Section 1. Practice Rules
- Section 2. Bye Weeks
- Section 3. Enforcement
- Section 4. Films
- Article 25: Squad Size
- Section 1. Active List
- Section 2. Pre-Season
- Section 3. Inactive List
- Section 4. Active and Inactive List Limit
- Article 26: Salaries
- Section 1. Minimum Salaries
- Section 2. Credited Season
- Section 3. Other Compensation
- Section 4. Arbitration
- Section 5. Payment
- Section 6. Deferred Paragraph 5
- Section 7. Copies of Contracts
- Section 8. Split Contracts
- Section 9. Funding of Deferred and Guaranteed Contracts
- Article 27: Veteran Salary Benefit
- Section 1. Qualifying Players
- Section 2. Qualifying Contracts
- Section 3. Additional Compensation Rules
- Section 4. Payments
- Section 5. Reduced Salary Cap Count for Qualifying Contracts
- Section 6. Player Benefit Calculation for Qualifying Contracts
- Section 7. Four-Year Player Qualifying Contract
- Section 8. Reduced Salary Cap Count for Four-Year Player Qualifying Contracts
- Section 9. Player Benefit Calculation for Four-Year Player Qualifying Contracts
- Section 10. Renegotiations and Extensions of Qualifying Contracts
- Section 11. Renegotiations and Extensions of Four-Year Player Qualifying Contracts
- Section 12. Terminated Qualifying Players
- Section 13. Players Moving to New Club
- Section 14. Player Returning to Old Club
- Section 15. Players with Expired Contract
- Section 16. Guarantees
- Section 17. Termination Pay
- Section 18. No Benefit for Non-Qualifying Contracts or Non-Qualifying Four-Year Player Contacts
- Article 28: Performance-Based Pool
- Section 2. Amount of Fund
- Section 3. Mandatory Distribution Each Year
- Section 4. Qualifying Players
- Section 5. Methodology
- Section 6. Corrections
- Article 29: Waivers
- Section 1. Release
- Section 2. Contact
- Section 3. Ineligibility
- Section 4. Notice of Termination
- Section 5. NFLPA’s Right to Personnel Information
- Section 6. Rosters
- Section 7. Procedural Recall Waivers
- Article 30: Termination Pay
- Section 1. Eligibility
- Section 2. Regular Season Signings
- Section 3. Ineligibility For Termination Pay
- Article 31: Additional Regular Season Games
- Article 32: Expansion
- Section 1. Veteran Allocation
- Section 2. Additional Compensatory Picks
- Section 3. Rookie Compensation Pool Adjustment
- Section 4. Relocation Bonus
- Section 5. Regular Season Games Played Outside of the United States
- Article 33: Practice Squads
- Section 1. Practice Squads
- Section 2. Signing With Other Clubs
- Section 3. Salary
- Section 4. Eligibility
- Section 5. Standard Elevation Addendum
- Section 6. Active List (Other Clubs)
- Section 7. Standard Contagious Disease Addendum
- Section 8. Housing
- Article 34: Meal Allowance
- Section 1. Reimbursement
- Section 2. Travel Day
- Article 35: Days Off
- Section 2. Regular Season and Postseason
- Section 3. Requirements
- Section 4. Regular Season Bye Weeks
- Article 36: Moving and Travel Expenses
- Section 2. Moving Expenses
- Section 3. Travel Expenses
- Section 4. Transportation
- Article 37: Postseason Pay
- Section 1. System
- Section 2. Compensation
- Section 3. Wild Card Game; Division Play-off Game
- Section 4. Conference Championship; Super Bowl Game
- Section 5. Payment
- Article 38: Pro Bowl Game
- Section 1. Compensation
- Section 2. Selection
- Section 3. Spouses
- Section 4. Injury
- Section 5. Payment
- Section 6. Applicability
- Article 39: Players’ Rights To Medical Care and Treatment
- Section 1. Club Physician
- Section 2. Club Athletic Trainers
- Section 3. NFLPA Medical Director
- Section 4. Emergency Action Plan
- Section 5. Accountability and Care Committee
- Section 6. Player’s Right to a Second Medical Opinion
- Section 7. Player’s Right to a Surgeon of His Choice
- Section 8. Standard Minimum Preseason Physical
- Section 9. Substance Abuse and Performance-Enhancing Substances
- Section 10. Club Visiting Team Locker Rooms
- Section 11. Field Surface Safety & Performance Committee
- Section 12. Joint Engineering and Equipment Safety Committee
- Section 13. Sleep Studies
- Section 14. Club-Wide Biospecimen Collection
- Section 15. DICON
- Section 16. NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee’s Concussion Diagnosis and Management Protocol
- Section 17. NFL Game Concussion Protocol Enforcement
- Section 18. NFL Player Scientific & Medical Research Protocol
- Section 19. Behavioral Health Program
- Section 20. Prescription Medication and Pain Management Program
- Section 21. Remedies
- Article 40: Access To Personnel And Medical Records
- Section 1. Personnel Records
- Section 2. Medical Records
- Section 3. Electronic Medical Record System
- Article 41: Workers’ Compensation
- Section 1. Benefits
- Section 2. Rejection of Coverage
- Section 3. Arbitration
- Section 4. Workers’ Compensation Offset Provisions
- Section 5. Carve-Out
- Section 6. Reservation of Rights
- Article 42: Club Discipline
- Section 1. Maximum Discipline
- Section 2. Published Lists
- Section 3. Uniformity
- Section 4. Disputes
- Section 5. Deduction
- Section 6. NFL Policies
- Section 7. Cumulative Fines
- Section 8. Effective Date
- Article 43: Non-Injury Grievance
- Section 1. Definition
- Section 2. Initiation
- Section 3. Filing
- Section 4. Ordinary and Expedited Appeal
- Section 5. Discovery and Prehearing Procedures
- Section 6. Arbitration Panel
- Section 7. Hearing
- Section 8. Arbitrator’s Decision and Award
- Section 9. Time Limits
- Section 10. Representation
- Section 11. Costs
- Section 12. Payment
- Section 13. Grievance Settlement Committee
- Section 14. Standard Grievance Correspondence
- Article 44: Injury Grievance
- Section 1. Definition
- Section 2. Filing
- Section 3. Answer
- Section 4. Neutral Physician
- Section 5. Neutral Physician List
- Section 6. Appeal
- Section 7. Arbitration Panel
- Section 8. Hearing
- Section 9. Expenses
- Section 10. Pension Credit
- Section 11. Payment
- Section 12. Presumption of Fitness
- Section 13. Playoff Money
- Section 14. Information Exchange
- Section 15. Discovery
- Section 16. Grievance Settlement Committee
- Section 17. Settlement Agreements
- Section 18. Standard Grievance Correspondence
- Article 45: Injury Protection
- Section 1. Transition Rules
- Section 2. Qualification
- Section 3. Benefit
- Section 4. Treatment of Injury Protection Benefit Payments
- Section 5. Injury Protection Candidate List
- Section 6. Disputes
- Section 7. Extended Injury Protection Qualification
- Section 8. Extended Injury Protection Benefit
- Section 9. Treatment of Extended Injury Protection Benefit Payments
- Section 10. Extended Injury Protection Disputes
- Section 11. Workers’ Compensation Offset
- Section 12. Filing
- Section 13. Costs
- Article 46: Commissioner Discipline
- Section 1. League Discipline
- Section 2. Hearings
- Section 3. Time Limits
- Section 4. One Penalty
- Section 5. Commissioner Exempt
- Section 6. Fine Money
- Section 7. Permitted Activities for Players Suspended Under the Personal Conduct Policy
- Article 47: Union Security
- Section 1. Union Security
- Section 2. Check-off
- Section 3. NFLPA Meetings
- Section 4. NFLPA Player Group Licensing Program
- Section 5. Disputes
- Section 6. Procedure for Enforcement
- Section 7. NFLPA Responsibility
- Section 8. Orientations
- Article 48: NFLPA Agent Certification
- Section 1. Exclusive Representation
- Section 2. Enforcement
- Section 3. Penalty
- Article 49: Player Security
- Section 1. No Discrimination
- Section 2. Personal Appearance
- Article 50: Competition Committee
- Section 1. Competition Committee
- Article 51: Miscellaneous
- Section 1. Endorsements
- Section 2. Player Attire
- Section 3. Appearances
- Section 4. Promotion
- Section 5. Deduction
- Section 6. Public Statements
- Section 7. Address
- Section 8. NFLPA Tickets
- Section 9. Player Tickets
- Section 10. Tests
- Section 11. League Security
- Section 12. Career Planning Program
- Section 13. On-Field Microphones
- Section 14. Sensors
- Section 15. Practice Squad Super Bowl Rings
- Section 16. Prior Side Letters
- Section 17. Club Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Section 18. Club Equipment Managers
- Section 19. Club Directors of Player Engagement
- Article 52: Player Benefit Costs
- Section 1. General Right of Reduction
- Section 2. Right of Restoration
- Section 3. Resolution of Disputes
- Section 4. Limitations on Contributions
- Section 5. Timing
- Article 53: Retirement Plan
- Section 1. Maintenance and Definitions
- Section 2. Contributions
- Section 3. Pension Enhancements
- Section 4. 2025 Increase to Pre-2012 Credited Season Credits
- Section 5. Vesting Requirements
- Section 6. Death Benefits
- Article 54: Second Career Savings Plan
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Contributions
- Section 3. Practice Squad Players
- Article 55: Player Annuity Program
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Contributions
- Section 3. Timing
- Section 4. Structure
- Section 5. NFL Player Annuity & Insurance Company Net Worth
- Article 55A: NFL Player Capital Accumulation Plan
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Contributions
- Section 3. Timing
- Section 4. Expenses
- Section 5. Future Contributions
- Article 56: Tuition Assistance Plan
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Change in Plan Year
- Section 3. Benefit
- Section 4. Eligibility and Former Player Benefit
- Section 5. Reimbursement
- Section 6. Administration
- Article 57: 88 Benefit
- Section 1. Establishment
- Section 2. Benefits
- Section 3. No Reduction for Parkinson’s Disease
- Section 4. Funding
- Section 5. Term
- Article 58: Group Insurance
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Extended Post-Career Medical, Vision And Dental Benefits
- Section 3. Limitations And Rules For Extended Insurance
- Section 4. NFL Designated Hospital Network
- Section 5. Administration
- Article 59: Severance Pay
- Section 1. Eligibility and Maintenance
- Section 2. Amount
- Section 3. Payment
- Section 4. Second Payment
- Section 5. Payable to Survivor
- Section 6. Administration
- Section 7. Non-assignability
- Article 60: NFL Player Disability & Neurocognitive Benefit Plan
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Benefit Amounts
- Section 3. Medical Records
- Section 4. Social Security Disability Insurance Offset
- Section 5. Whole Person Evaluation
- Section 6. Social Security Eligibility
- Section 7. Line of Duty
- Section 8. Neurocognitive Disability Benefits
- Section 9. Treatment for Neurocognitive Disorders
- Section 10. Circuit Breaker
- Article 61: Long Term Care Insurance Plan
- Section 1. Eligibility and Maintenance
- Section 2. Benefits
- Section 3. Limitations
- Section 4. Plan Benefits Primary
- Section 5. Administration
- Article 62: Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Contributions
- Section 3. Health Reimbursement Accounts
- Section 4. Allocation for Certain Former Players
- Section 5. Plan Operation in Post-Expiration Years
- Article 63: Former Player Life Improvement Plan
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Joint Replacements
- Section 3. Discount Prescription Drug Benefits
- Section 4. Assisted Living Benefits
- Section 5. Spine Treatment Benefit
- Section 6. Neurological Benefit
- Section 7. Life Insurance Benefit
- Section 8. Medicare Supplement
- Section 9. Administration
- Section 10. NFLPA Review
- Article 63A: Non-Vested Former Player Wellness Plan
- Section 1. Maintenance
- Section 2. Administration
- Article 64: Benefits Arbitrator
- Section 1. Selection
- Section 2. Compensation
- Section 3. Role
- Article 65: Mutual Reservation Of Rights: Labor Exemption
- Section 1. Rights Under Law
- Article 66: Duration Of Agreement
- Section 1. Effective Date/Expiration Date
- Section 2. Termination Due To Collusion
- Article 67: Governing Law and Principles
- Section 1. Governing Law
- Section 2. Parol Evidence
- Section 3. Mutual Drafting
- Section 4. Headings
- Section 5. Binding Effect
- Section 6. Authorization
- Section 7. Appendices and Exhibits
- Section 8. Time Periods
- Section 9. Modification
- Section 10. Delivery of Documents
- Article 68: Notices
- Article 69: Retention Of Benefits
- Appendix A: NFL Player Contract
- Appendix B: First Refusal Offer Sheet
- Appendix C: First Refusal Exercise Notice
- Appendix D: Waiver of Free Agent Rights
- Appendix E: Examples of Cap Percentage Average Franchise and Transition Tender Calculations
- Appendix F: Accountants' Review Procedures
- Appendix G: Offseason Workout Rules
- Appendix H: Notice of Termination
- Appendix I: Written Warning Good Faith Effort
- Appendix J: Practice Squad Player Contract
- Appendix K: Standard Minimum Preseason Physical Examination
- Appendix L: Injury Grievance Settlement
- Appendix M: Check-off Authorization for NFLPA Deductions
- Appendix N: Actuarial Assumptions and Actuarial Cost Method
- Appendix O: Health Reimbursement Plan Actuarial Assumptions and Funding
- Appendix P: Offseason Workout Addendum for Player Under Contract
- Appendix Q: Offseason Workout Program and Minicamp Participation Agreement for Player Under Tender or Club's Own Unrestricted Free Agent
- Appendix R: Community Relations/Sponsor Appearances and Promotional Activities by Player Under Rookie Contract
- Appendix S: Standard Player Authorizations
- Appendix T: Pro Bowl Injury Table
- Appendix U: 2020 Schedule of On-Field Fines
- Appendix V: Compensatory Draft System
- Appendix W: NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee's Concussion Diagnosis and Management Protogcol
- Appendix X: NFL Player Scientific & Medical Research Protocol
- Appendix Y: Neurocognitive Benefit Release and Covenant Not To Sue
- Appendix Z: Intentionally Omitted
- Appendix AA: Media Kicker Slotted Player Cost Percentage Methodology
- Appendix BB: Player Notification Form Club Physician Diagnosis and Prescription Summary
- Appendix CC: Owned and Operated Businesses