The NFL suspended San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw one game on Monday for head-butting Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing his helmet at the time. The Dre Greenlaw one-game suspension stems from an ejection during Sunday’s Week 5 win over the Seahawks and will keep him out of San Francisco’s Week 6 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter after a late hit on Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who had stepped out of bounds following a 5-yard scramble. Several Seattle defenders rushed to confront Greenlaw on the sideline, and he head-butted Jones, who was not wearing a helmet and was bleeding afterward.
The League’s Ruling And Why It Was Issued
The NFL cited Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 in handing down the discipline, a rule covering “The NFL suspended San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw one game Monday for head-butting Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing his helmet. The suspension stems from an ejection during Sunday’s Week 5 win over the Seahawks and will keep him out of San Francisco’s Week 6 matchup against the Washington Commanders.”any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,” according to NFL.com. The league’s statement specified that Greenlaw “used his helmet to headbutt Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet,” the infraction occurring in the second quarter.
The 49ers may appeal the suspension under the collective bargaining agreement, per NFL.com. No appeal had been filed as of Monday afternoon.
Impact On San Francisco’s Linebacker Depth
Greenlaw will be eligible to rejoin the active roster on Tuesday, Oct. 20, the day after San Francisco’s Monday night game against Washington. He has 37 tackles in five games this season.
San Francisco turned to rookie Jaden Dugger at weakside linebacker after Greenlaw’s ejection Sunday, and Dugger finished with nine tackles and a sack. Veteran Luke Gifford slid into Dugger’s strong-side role and recorded a forced fumble. The 49ers beat the Seahawks 32-29 despite the shuffle.
A Pattern Of Discipline
Monday’s suspension adds to a pattern of discipline for Greenlaw. He was fined $11,941 two days earlier for taunting the Denver Broncos’ sideline the previous week. Last season with the Broncos, he was suspended one game for running toward referee Brad Allen and verbally threatening him. He was also ejected in 2022 for a late hit on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and in 2023 for an altercation with Philadelphia Eagles personnel.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said after Sunday’s game that he understood the ejection. “You’re going to get baited big time, especially when you’re on their bench,” Shanahan said. “They’re going to get close, and they told me that he head-butted a guy without a helmet.
If that’s exactly what happened then we got to be a lot smarter than that. Can’t do that.”
Greenlaw returned to San Francisco this season after spending 2025 with the Broncos.
What’s Next
The 49ers host the Washington Commanders on Monday, Oct. 19, without Greenlaw. He is eligible to rejoin the active roster on Oct. 20 once the suspension is served.
For more on this story, see Total Apex Sports’ San Francisco 49ers coverage.
Additional reporting via the 49ers’ official site.
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