The incident and the ejection
Midway through the second quarter of Sunday's game in Seattle, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw tackled Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold as he scrambled five yards and was a half-step out of bounds, sending the quarterback into the Seahawks bench area. Officials flagged the hit as unnecessary roughness. Seahawks players quickly surrounded Greenlaw, and linebacker Ernest Jones IV was among the first to confront him. Greenlaw then thrust his head forward, colliding with Jones's head while Jones was not wearing a helmet. Replays showed the headbutt, and officials announced that Greenlaw was disqualified. He did not protest and was seen miming the action to teammate Fred Warner before leaving the field.[S1][S2][S3]
League announces one-game suspension
On Monday, the NFL announced that Greenlaw will serve a one-game suspension without pay. The league cited Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which covers any act contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship, according to a news release. The suspension means Greenlaw will miss the next game and will be eligible to return to the active roster the day after. He is appealing the suspension, a league source confirmed. His disciplinary history is expected to be considered during the appeal process.[S1][S2][S3]
A new rule and disciplinary history
The ejection stemmed from a rule allowing league personnel to consult with on-field officials regarding disqualifications for non-football acts that are not flagged on the field. The headbutt itself was not initially flagged by officials during play. Greenlaw's past disciplinary record includes multiple personal foul penalties, previous ejections, and a prior suspension for a postgame incident involving a referee.[S1][S2][S3]
Reaction and team impact
Ernest Jones IV later confirmed to reporters after Seattle's 32-29 loss that he was bleeding a little after the headbutt, but he did not hold hard feelings. He noted that he did not think Greenlaw intentionally targeted the quarterback, though he felt compelled to speak up. Coach Kyle Shanahan declined to address the headbutt during his postgame press conference, and Greenlaw did not speak to the media following his ejection from the game.[S1][S2][S3]
