2011 NFL lockout

2011 NFL lockout
DateMarch 12, 2011 – July 25, 2011
(4 months, 1 week and 6 days)
Location
United States
Caused by
  • 1993 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement opt-out clause invoked in May 2008
  • 2010 season played without the salary cap in force
  • Failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the 2011 NFL draft
  • Disagreements between league owners and players on rule changes for the 2011 NFL season
  • Antitrust litigation between players and owners
Goals
  • Owners proposed expansion of the regular season from 16 to 18 games, implementation of rookie wage scale, salary cap reform, and reduction of players' share of the league's revenue
  • Players counter-proposed with increase in their share of the league's revenue, along with provisions for new health and safety protocols
Resulted inNew 10-year collective bargaining agreement reached with no changes to the length of the regular season; 2011 NFL season proceeds as planned
Parties
Lead figures

Roger Goodell (commissioner)
Robert Kraft (lead negotiator)[1]

The 2011 National Football League Player lockout was a work stoppage imposed by the owners of the NFL's 32 teams that lasted from March 12, 2011, to July 25, 2011. When the owners and the NFL players, represented by the National Football League Players Association, could not come to a consensus on a new collective bargaining agreement, the owners locked out the players from team facilities and shut down league operations. The major issues disputed were the salary cap, players' safety and health benefits, revenue sharing and television contracts, transparency of financial information, rookie salaries, season length, and free agency guidelines. During the 18-week, 4-day period, there was no free agency and training camp, and players were restricted from seeing team doctors, entering or working out at team facilities, or communicating with coaches. The end of the lockout coincided with the formation of a new collective bargaining agreement prior to the start of the 2011 regular season.

  1. ^ Reiss, Mike (July 25, 2011). "Saturday: Kraft helped save football". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2021.