49ers Star Drew Greenlaw Ejected After Headbutting Seahawks Rival in Heated Scene

Dre Greenlaw was ejected after a late-hit penalty led to a sideline confrontation with Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Greenlaw needs to be smarter after the third ejection of his career

The 49ers remained undefeated at 5-0 after their 32-29 win over the Seahawks

Tensions escalated well before the final whistle of Sunday's NFC West clash.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the first half of the team's eventual 32-29 road win over the rival Seattle Seahawks for headbutting a helmetless opponent in a fiery scene on Sunday, Oct. 11.

The drama unfolded in the second quarter when Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold rushed for five yards and stepped out of bounds on his own sideline, as Greenlaw, 29, came in and was flagged for a late hit. Several Seahawks players then entered the scene, with Greenlaw and Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV having words, according to ESPN , before the Niners star connected with a helmet-less Jones , 26.

Officials then confirmed Greenlaw's ejection, the third of his career.

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"He knows he's got to be smarter," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said after the Week 5 win.

Greenlaw, who got the boot in 2022 over a late hit against Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and again the following year after an altercation with Philadelphia Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro, is likely facing further discipline from the league. He was fined nearly $12,000 on Saturday, Oct. 10 for unsportsmanlike conduct, stemming from an incident last week when he yelled at the Denver Broncos sideline, per ESPN.

"That's how it is," Shanahan said postgame. "You're going to get baited big time, especially when you're on their bench. They're going to get close, and they told me that he head-butted a guy without a helmet. So, if that's exactly what happened, then we got to be a lot smarter than that. Can't do that."

Greenlaw, an eight-year veteran on his second run with the 49ers after spending the 2025 season in Denver, was suspended for one game last season when he ran toward official Brad Allen and was accused of "verbally" threatening him, according to ESPN.

San Francisco now sits atop the NFC West at 5-0 following Sunday's game, while the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are in second at 3-2.