An American official is down in London. NFL umpire Larry Smith was carted off the field on Sunday just moments into an international matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans.
Smith appeared to slip on the wet grass at Wembley Stadium. He fell onto his backside before trying to get off, visibly limping and falling again.
Medical personnel from both squads assisted Smith before taking him off the field in a cart. He tipped his cap to the fans in the English capital, eliciting a cheer from the fans attending the third London game of the NFL season.
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NFL officiating crews typically include seven on-field officials: a head referee, a line judge, a down judge, a back judge, a field judge, a side judge and an umpire. NFL guidelines allow for a game to continue with six officials, as the referee accepts additional responsibilities.
Smith is in his second season as an NFL official after previously working as a referee for NCAA and USFL games. He works full-time as a middle school principal in Kansas City, Kansas.
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