San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw hit the showers early after getting ejected in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sunday.
Greenlaw delivered a late hit to Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and then headbutted Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet on the sideline. Greenlaw was tossed with 6:23 left in the second quarter, with the 49ers ahead, 14-10.
They went on to beat Seattle, 32-29, courtesy of 49ers kicker Eddie Pineiro's game-winning field goal. San Francisco improved to 5-0.
In the contest's pool report, as shared by The Ringer's Tom Pelissero, NFL vice president of replay training and development Mark Butterworth said Greenlaw was ejected due to his “non-football act.”
“The clubs passed a rule this year that the AMGC (Art McNally Gameday Central in New York) can actually eject a player even when there is not a flag down on the field for the action. But in this case, there was a flag down on the field. When they went to the sideline, the player in question actually head-butted a non-helmeted player on the sideline,” explained Butterworth.
Pool report on the end of the Seahawks-49ers game and Dre Greenlaw’s ejection: https://t.co/AOoNQiYNS0 pic.twitter.com/9sLQsecVzx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 12, 2026
Butterworth added that the league has a “very specific process” in ejecting a player.
The 29-year-old Greenlaw, who is known for his mercurial personality, finished with three tackles.
Article Continues BelowIt was not the first time the former fifth-round pick was tossed. In 2023, he was ejected over an altercation with Philadelphia Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro. In 2022, he was ejected after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Greenlaw, who is in his second stint with the 49ers, grabbed attention in Week 4 after going after Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton.
San Francisco will host the Washington Commanders in Week 6.