Sam Darnold hit leads to NFL ejection
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was involved in a sideline incident during the October 11, 2026, game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected following a confrontation.
The incident occurred during the second quarter after Greenlaw hit Darnold beyond the sideline. Greenlaw subsequently headbutted Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, prompting an ejection and an NFL disciplinary review the following day.
Dre Greenlaw penalized for late hit
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw received an unnecessary roughness penalty after hitting Sam Darnold beyond the boundary during the second quarter. The play occurred with Seattle trailing San Francisco by 4 points.
Darnold had scrambled toward the Seahawks sideline before Greenlaw made contact. The officials penalized Greenlaw for the late hit, and Seattle players immediately approached the defender as tensions increased near their bench.
Ernest Jones IV confronts Greenlaw
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV was among the first players to confront Dre Greenlaw following the hit on Sam Darnold. The confrontation happened directly in front of Seattle’s bench during the second quarter.
According to the Seahawks’ official website, Jones approached Greenlaw as Darnold went to the ground near the sideline. Several Seattle defenders joined the confrontation, which escalated before officials intervened to restore order.
Dre Greenlaw headbutts helmetless player
San Francisco linebacker Dre Greenlaw headbutted Seattle’s Ernest Jones IV during the sideline confrontation. Greenlaw was wearing his helmet, while Jones was not.
The NFL identified the second-quarter headbutt as the conduct that led to its disciplinary action. The confrontation followed Greenlaw’s late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold.
NFL officials eject Dre Greenlaw
Dre Greenlaw was ejected with 6:04 remaining in the second quarter of the October 11 matchup. San Francisco led Seattle 14 to 10 when the confrontation led to Greenlaw’s removal.
The decision followed a review involving the NFL’s game operations officials. Greenlaw was sent to the locker room, leaving San Francisco without an experienced linebacker for the remainder of its divisional matchup.
NFL cites sportsmanship rule violation
The NFL determined that Dre Greenlaw violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 of its playing rules. The provision addresses conduct that violates the league’s established standards of sportsmanship during games.
League officials specifically identified Greenlaw’s decision to headbutt Ernest Jones IV while Jones was without a helmet. The ruling distinguished the sideline confrontation from the earlier unnecessary roughness penalty involving quarterback Sam Darnold.
NFL suspends Dre Greenlaw for 1 game
The NFL suspended Dre Greenlaw for 1 game without pay on October 12 following his headbutt of Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV. San Francisco had defeated the Seahawks 32-29 the previous day.
Hearing officer James Thrash upheld the suspension on October 13. Greenlaw will miss the October 19 game against Washington and become eligible to return to San Francisco’s active roster on October 20.
Dre Greenlaw has previous NFL penalties
Dre Greenlaw received a 1-game suspension while playing for Denver in 2025 after an incident involving an official following a victory over the New York Giants.
He was also ejected against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. The 29-year-old received an $11,941 fine for taunting Denver’s sideline during San Francisco’s October 4, 2026, victory.
Dre Greenlaw records 37 tackles in 2026
Dre Greenlaw has recorded 37 tackles through the first 5 games of the 2026 NFL season. The linebacker returned to San Francisco after spending the 2025 season with the Denver Broncos.
Greenlaw recorded 12 tackles against Denver on October 4, including 7 solo stops and 5 assisted tackles. Against Seattle, his early ejection limited him to 3 tackles, including 2 solo stops.
49ers defense forces 4 Seattle turnovers
San Francisco recorded 4 takeaways in its October 11 victory over Seattle, scoring 21 points from 3 of those turnovers. The defensive effort helped the 49ers overcome Greenlaw’s second-quarter ejection and improve to 5-0.
Rookie defensive lineman Gracen Halton forced and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. San Francisco also recorded 5 sacks and intercepted Sam Darnold twice.
Sam Darnold throws 2 interceptions
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold finished the October 11 game with 195 passing yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. San Francisco’s defense sacked him 5 times during the closely contested NFC West matchup.
Darnold connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 16-yard touchdown. Seattle committed 4 turnovers, with 3 directly contributing to San Francisco touchdowns.
49ers defeat Seahawks 32 to 29
San Francisco defeated Seattle 32-29 on October 11 to improve to 5-0. Kicker Eddy Piñeiro made the decisive 44-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining.
Brock Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Mike Evans finished with 113 receiving yards.
The 49ers and Seahawks confrontation gave NFL fans plenty to discuss beyond the final score. Check out NFL fans react to Trump ads during FOX broadcasts.
49ers prepare for Washington without Greenlaw
San Francisco takes a 5-0 record into its October 19 home game against Washington at Levi’s Stadium. Dre Greenlaw will miss the matchup after his appeal of a 1-game suspension was denied.
Seattle has already completed its Week 6 game, losing 17-14 in overtime at Denver on October 15. That defeat dropped the Seahawks to 3-3.
Dre Greenlaw’s ejection highlights how quickly officials must respond when tensions rise on the field. Explore why the NFL suspends two referees after heated player incidents
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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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