NFL ejections and suspensions for non-football acts, explained
How officials and the league office handle punches, headbutts and other unsportsmanlike acts, from in-game ejection to suspension and appeal.
A non-football act is contact that has nothing to do with playing the down: a punch, a headbutt, a kick or a shove after the whistle. The NFL treats these under its sportsmanship rule, Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, and they can lead to an ejection on the field and a fine or suspension afterward.
What happens on the field
Officials can flag the act as unsportsmanlike conduct, a 15-yard penalty, and can disqualify the player. The league office in New York can also tell officials to eject a player for a non-football act after a replay review, even if no separate flag was thrown for that act.
That is what happened to 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw in Week 5: officials ejected him after the league office instructed them to, following a sideline headbutt on Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet.
What happens after the game
| Step | Who decides | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Review | League office | Game film is reviewed for every flagged and unflagged act. |
| Fine or suspension | League office | Fines are common; suspensions are reserved for striking an opponent, repeat offenses or acts against defenseless players. |
| Appeal | Hearing officer | Appeals go to one of the officers jointly appointed by the league and the players’ union. |
| Pay | Collective bargaining agreement | Suspended players lose their game checks for each game missed. |
Week 5 examples
- Dre Greenlaw (49ers): one-game suspension for the headbutt; hearing officer James Thrash upheld it, so he misses Washington.
- Alaric Jackson (Rams): two-game suspension for striking Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb in the face during postgame handshakes; he is appealing.
Does it count after the game ends?
Yes. The sportsmanship rule covers conduct before, during and after a game, which is why a postgame punch can cost a player regular-season games.
Can a suspension be reduced?
A hearing officer can uphold, reduce or overturn the discipline. Most appeals of on-field conduct suspensions are upheld, as Greenlaw’s was this week.
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