Dre Greenlaw ejected for headbutting Ernest Jones IV

It started with a routine play: Greenlaw forced Sam Darnold out of bounds at the end of a 5-yard scramble, and that put him right in the middle of the Seahawks sideline.

Mike Garafolo

@MikeGarafolo

NFL (Green)Law & Order once again for Dre. Ejected for this headbutt.

Jones, with no helmet on, said something to Greenlaw. Greenlaw answered with his forehead. That's a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag that moved Seattle to the San Francisco 32, and an early trip to the locker room for one of the 49ers' most important defenders. The Niners had to play the rest of a 14-10 division game without him.

Anyone who's watched Greenlaw for a while isn't shocked. He's always played right on the edge, and this isn't even his first ejection. In December 2023 he got tossed against the Eagles after a scuffle with Philadelphia's chief security officer, and the league had already fined him $11,941 for taunting the Broncos' sideline. The 49ers beat writer put his career rap sheet in perspective.

Eric Branch

@Eric_Branch

Dre Greenlaw with his 8th career personal foul. Seems low. #49ers

Eight career personal fouls, and the guy covering him every day thinks the number seems low. That tells you everything about how Greenlaw plays. On most days it's why the 49ers love him. Today it hands a division rival free yards and leaves a hole in the middle of the defense.

It's also not how anyone pictured the reunion going. Greenlaw left San Francisco for Denver on a 3-year, $31.5 million deal, played just 8 games there because of injuries and got cut after 1 season. The 49ers brought him back in March on a 1-year, $7.5 million contract, betting the old Greenlaw was still in there. The edge came back with him, apparently.

Next up is the league office. Headbutting an opponent who isn't wearing a helmet is exactly the kind of thing that gets more than a flag. With his history, Greenlaw should expect a fine at the very least, and maybe a closer look at a suspension. For a 49ers defense that needs him on the field, that's the part to watch this week.