The NFL suspended San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw for one game without pay on Monday for head-butting Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet, during Sunday’s game at Lumen Field.

The head-butt came in the second quarter, with the 49ers leading 14-10, after Greenlaw was flagged for hitting quarterback Sam Darnold late on a scramble toward the Seattle sideline. Several Seahawks surrounded Greenlaw, Jones among them. Greenlaw was ejected, and San Francisco went on to win 32-29 to improve to 5-0.

Some Believe Dre Greenlaw’s Suspension Is Too Harsh After His Ejection

Under a new rule, the league office can order an ejection for a non-football act even if that specific act was not flagged on the field. Mark Butterworth, the NFL’s vice president of instant replay, told a pool reporter that Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, informed replay of the ejection, and Butterworth then relayed it to the field.

The suspension did not sit well with Jason Aponte, a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. “Man, that’s weak. He got ejected, that should be the one game suspension.”

San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner said after the game that he was too far away to help Greenlaw in the scrum. “He’s all by himself on their sideline. Of course, they’re trying to gang up on him, and good on them for baiting him into doing something.”

Some fans and observers kept it short. “This is so soft lol,” Trev wrote.

In its statement, the NFL said Greenlaw “used his helmet to headbutt Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet” in the second quarter, violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which covers acts contrary to the principles of sportsmanship.

“I expected that but it’s still weak,” Danny G wrote. “Guys have thrown punches with more force and don’t get a game suspension. No matter, Jaden Dugger has got this.”

Jaden Dugger, a rookie, replaced Greenlaw at weakside linebacker, with veteran Luke Gifford moving into Dugger’s spot on the strong side. Dugger finished with nine tackles and a sack, and Pro Football Network’s LB Impact grade had him at 82.1 for Sunday’s game, tied for 13th of 62 graded linebackers that week.

Others Say Greenlaw Earned the Ban by Head-Butting a Helmetless Player

Asked after Sunday’s game whether he disagreed with the ejection, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he did not, adding that he hadn’t fully seen it and that players get baited on an opponent’s bench. “They told me that he headbutted a guy without a helmet, so if that’s exactly what happened, then we got to be a lot smarter than that.”

Ern came back to the same detail. “Yea dawg u can’t headbutt nobody that don’t have a helmet. It’s basically a weapon at that point.”

It is not Greenlaw’s first brush with league discipline. He was suspended one game last season, while with the Denver Broncos, for confronting referee Brad Allen after a game. The NFL also fined him $11,941 for taunting the Broncos’ sideline in San Francisco’s Week 4 win.

“I’m surprised it’s one game,” another account wrote.

Sunday’s ejection was also the third of Greenlaw’s NFL career. It followed a hit on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in 2022 and a sideline altercation with Philadelphia Eagles head of security Dom DiSandro in 2023.

“49ers fans acting surprised that the dirtiest player in the game gets suspended,” the business account ParlayPlay wrote.

Greenlaw rejoined the 49ers this season after spending 2025 with Denver, and he has 37 tackles in five games.

One 49ers fan weighed in as well. “You simply cannot headbutt another player who’s not wearing a helmet. Good news is we play Washington and should be fine without him.”

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported, citing a source, that Greenlaw is appealing. Any appeal will be decided by Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson, Ron Rivera, or James Thrash, the hearing officers jointly appointed by the league and the players’ union.

If the suspension stands, Greenlaw will miss the Week 6 Monday night game against the Washington Commanders at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 19 and be eligible to return to the active roster Oct. 20.