NFL suspends 49ers’ Greenlaw for head-butting Seahawks’ Jones

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw has been suspended for one game without pay by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct after head-butting Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV on the sideline during Sunday’s showdown between the NFC West rivals, the league announced Monday morning.

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Greenlaw was called for a late hit when he collided with Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold as Darnold was stepping out of bounds on a scramble in the second quarter.

After the hit, which came on the Seattle sideline, Greenlaw was surrounded by Seahawks players and delivered a head-butt to a helmetless Jones.

Here is the play that resulted in 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw being suspended for next Monday night’s game vs. the Commanders (📺 @NFLonFOX): https://t.co/WRbRQl58qA pic.twitter.com/7gnQYbBixb

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 12, 2026

The NFL said Greenlaw violated Rule 12, Section C, Article 1, which applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportmanship.”

Greenlaw wasn’t flagged for the head-butt, but he was ejected from the game due to a new league rule that allows the NFL’s league office to eject players for non-football acts even if they’re not flagged.

“We have a very specific process we go through. (NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations) Troy Vincent let us know that the player was ejected, so then I communicated with the field to inform them that number 57 was ejected from the game for a non-football act,” NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth on Sunday said via a pool report from ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

Greenlaw has the option of appealing the suspension. If he decides to go that route, he will be eligible to play until a ruling is made.

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