The San Francisco 49ers hold a one-score halftime lead over the Seattle Seahawks in a battle for NFC West supremacy, but they will have to play the rest of the game without one of their starting linebackers.
Dre Greenlaw, who has started all four games for San Francisco this season and entered Sunday's game with 34 tackles and one forced fumble, got a bit too aggressive against the Seahawks and is now paying the price. It all started as Sam Darnold scrambled out of the pocket and up Seattle's sideline midway through the second quarter.
Greenlaw delivered a brutal hit to Darnold, but it came just after Darnold had stepped out of bounds, drawing a personal foul penalty for a late hit. But what could have ended there led to more drama, as several
Seahawks players confronted Greenlaw about the hit as he attempted to return to the field. Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones got into Greenlaw's face without his helmet on, and Greenlaw responded with a headbutt directly to Jones, earning himself a trip to the locker room for the rest of the game.
#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw has been ejected after a late hit on Sam Darnold and then headbutting LB Ernest Jones.pic.twitter.com/q1nu9cIwrz
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 11, 2026
The game between San Francisco and Seattle will decide who leaves the weekend with the division lead, with the defending Super Bowl champions entering 3-1 and the 49ers undefeated after a win over divisional rival Los Angeles. Now, San Francisco will have to keep their lead without one of their defensive starters if they want to stay atop the NFC West.
While the league has not yet announced a potential suspension or other punishment for Greenlaw, it's hard to argue that his actions didn't cross a line. A late hit is one thing and can easily be written off as a one-time mistake made in the heat of the moment while pursuing a fleeing defender. But the headbutt with his helmet to an unprotected opponent is dangerous and put Jones at serious risk. The league probably won't take that lightly.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw earns ejection after late hit leads to scuffle
