Dre Greenlaw got the last laugh, but it came at a price.
The NFL has fined the San Francisco 49ers linebacker $11,941 for taunting an opposing bench, KPRC-TV's Aaron Wilson reported on Tuesday.
During the Niners' 24-14 win over his former team, the Denver Broncos, Greenlaw made a tackle near the sideline and then yelled at Broncos coach Sean Payton. After the game, Greenlaw had more words for Payton, yelling at the coach to get off the field (with some colorful language).
Based on the fine's description from Wilson, it seems that Greenlaw was fined for his in-game sideline taunting, not the post-game message.
"Hey! You get the f-ck off my field!" A close look at Dre Greenlaw yelling at Sean Payton after the Broncos-49ers game. pic.twitter.com/TxQy5dbR5u
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) October 5, 2026
After the game, Greenlaw explained to the San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch that Payton stopped talking to the linebacker in Week 12 last season in the aftermath of his lingering injury. Greenlaw also took exception to Payton informing the player of his release through his agent this offseason.
"The disrespect," Greenlaw told Branch. "He couldn't be man-to-man and call my phone and say, 'We're going to cut you.'"
Payton shrugged off Greenlaw's antics after the loss.
"I think the world of him," Payton said. "You know, really, I love everything about him. And so, he plays with that emotion, and so, all good."
After signing a three-year, $31.5 million contract with Denver in 2025, Greenlaw missed nine games last fall (eight due to injury and one due to suspension). The Broncos saved about $8 million when they released Greenlaw this spring, moving forward with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad at linebacker.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL fines Dre Greenlaw for taunting Sean Payton and Broncos' bench
