Do NFL Referees Get Fired For Bad Calls

In the world of American football, the role of referees is crucial. They are the arbiters of the game, ensuring fair play and adherence to the rules. However, their decisions can sometimes be contentious, leading to questions about accountability when bad calls are made.

The National Football League (NFL) has a system in place to evaluate the performance of its referees. Senior non-field referees scrutinize Each official's work at the end of every game. This evaluation process is not just focused on identifying bad calls but also on assessing the overall performance of the referee. The results of these evaluations can impact the assignment of officials to playoff games and, in some cases, even their retention.

In rare instances, an NFL referee can be fired for particularly egregious calls. A notable example of this occurred in 2018 when down judge Hugo Cruz was dismissed midseason due to poor performance, which included a missed blatant false start against Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Russell Okung in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.