San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was thrown out of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field after he drove his helmet into the bare head of Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV during a sideline confrontation in the second quarter.
The ejection cost the 49ers one of the veterans in the middle of their defense with more than a half still to play in a divisional game, and it came with San Francisco holding a 14-10 lead and 6:04 left before halftime.
How it happened
The trouble started when Greenlaw chased Sam Darnold out of bounds in front of the Seattle bench. Officials flagged him for a late hit on the quarterback, and several Seahawks players came at him, Jones among them. Jones had his helmet off as the two exchanged words; Greenlaw still had his on when he lunged forward and butted Jones in the head. The penalty yardage put Seattle at the San Francisco 32.
Tom Pelissero reported that Greenlaw was disqualified under a new rule that lets the league office remove a player for a non-football act even when no flag is thrown for it, and that the league reviewed the replay and instructed the officials on the field to eject him. The league had not issued a statement on the decision by halftime.
49ers LB Dre Greenlaw was ejected for headbutting Seahawks LB Ernest Jones IV under a new rule that allows the league office to eject players for non-football acts even if they're not flagged.
The NFL saw the replay and told officials to disqualify him. pic.twitter.com/QpxUhe9kl2
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 11, 2026
Greenlaw had three tackles before he left. Jones had five tackles and a sack at the break.
Not his first exit
This is the second time Greenlaw has been sent off in a regular-season game. On December 3, 2023, in Philadelphia, he was ejected after a sideline run-in with the Eagles’ security chief, Dom DiSandro, who was also removed that day. Whether Sunday’s headbutt leads to a fine or any further discipline is up to the league office, which normally reviews ejections during the week. Nothing beyond the ejection had been announced at halftime.
Mike Garafolo shared the replay of the contact:
NFL (Green)Law & Order once again for Dre. Ejected for this headbutt. pic.twitter.com/mCPjE36xGu
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 11, 2026
The game around it
San Francisco went to the locker room ahead 21-13 after defensive tackle Gracen Halton fell on a fumble in the end zone with 13 seconds left in the half. Brock Purdy threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans early in the first quarter, and Christian McCaffrey ran 11 yards for a score. Seattle answered with a 2-yard Emanuel Wilson touchdown run and two Jason Myers field goals, from 49 and 50 yards. The full result will be on the Game Center.
What comes next
The Seahawks turn around quickly for a Thursday night trip to the Denver Broncos on October 15 at 8:15 p.m. EDT. The 49ers host the Washington Commanders on Monday, October 19, at 8:15 p.m. EDT.
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