The news surrounding NFL officials has lately not been kind in that there has been fiery criticism and even a couple of suspensions, but on Sunday we saw these people also deserve respect and compassion.
And they give it, too.
During the first quarter of the Jacksonville Jaguars versus Houston Texans game in London, umpire Larry Smith was going about his duties, changing the ball out after a play, when he slipped on the slick Wembley Stadium turf and fell.
Umpire Larry Smith receives medical attention after suffering an injury during the NFL London Series match between the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on Oct. 18, 2026. (Getty Images)
Smith got back up under his own power and then collapsed.
It seemed one of his knees buckled.
And as trainers came out to attend to Smith, we saw a reminder that these people so often challenged by coaches and players, and criticized and condemned by fans on social media and other forums, are indeed human.
While Smith lay on the turf getting attention, line judge Carl Johnson came over, took a knee, removed his cap, and began to pray for his fallen friend and colleague.
Washington Commanders players watch as medical staff attend to Jayden Daniels #5 in the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 20, 2026. (Getty Images)
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You see this done by players for one another all the time.
We saw it this year when Jaxson Dart went down for the Giants and again when Jayden Daniels was injured when the Commanders played the Cowboys. Packers players also kneeled to pray for fallen teammate Jayden Reed when he injured his neck earlier this season.
It was moving to see it done by one official for another.
Smith required a cart to leave the field. The report from the NFL Network said Smith suffered a lower-leg injury.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed is taken off the field following an injury during an NFL game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
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The officiating crew shifted its formation to work the game with six people instead of the regulation seven.
And we have a noteworthy moment that adds context to the other news officials have made this season, including a couple of suspensions on October 5 following Jeff Seeman’s cursing at Arizona tight end Trey McBride and Adrian Hill’s confrontational behavior in a Minnesota Vikings game.
The zebras, this touching moment reminds us, are human.
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