NFL takes unprecedented step to fire ref Hugo Cruz during season

NFL fans have long called for the league to hold its officials accountable for missed calls. But despite plenty of terrible officiating decisions over the years, the league had never fired an official mid-season in the Super Bowl era.

That changed on Thursday.

According to reports from ESPN and Football Zebras, the NFL fired official Hugo Cruz for a consistent string of poor performance.

Cruz was the down judge who simply missed this blatant false start by the Chargers, which resulted in a touchdown.

According to 247Sports, Browns coach Hue Jackson said a separate official told him that the call was missed, but they couldn't do anything to change it.

"Yep. Yep. Missed it. Yeah, I was told they missed it. Was very honest on my side. It sure wasn't the guy on the other side. It was definitely the guy on my side. That was [a false start]," Jackson said.

Cruz had joined the NFL in 2015. His firing is effective immediately, leaving an open spot on Carl Cheffers' crew.

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