49ers LB Dre Greenlaw Receives One-Game Suspension

In its statement announcing the decision, the NFL said, in part, “During the second quarter, Greenlaw used his helmet to headbutt Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet, violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”

The league continued: “Any appeal will be heard and decided upon by either Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson, Ron Rivera, or James Thrash, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.”

Greenlaw will plead his case to one of the hearing officers, but the fact that he served a one-game ban last October may work against him. Then a member of the Broncos, Greenlaw unsuccessfully appealed a suspension for chasing after and verbally threatening referee Brad Allen.

The Broncos released Greenlaw after the suspension and injuries limited him to eight games last season, leading him to reunite with the 49ers on a one-year, $6MM pact. Aside from one year in Denver, Greenlaw has played his entire career in San Francisco since he entered the league as a fifth-round pick in 2019. Greenlaw and elite linebacker Fred Warner formed a formidable duo for much of the former’s first stint with the 49ers, and they have picked up where they left off this season.

Greenlaw has played 67% of defensive snaps for the 5-0 Niners, racked up 37 tackles and forced a fumble. The 29-year-old is Pro Football Focus’ eighth-ranked off-ball LB out of 72 qualifiers this season, while Warner checks in at No. 2. Thanks in part to those two, the 49ers have allowed the third-fewest points and sixth-fewest yards in the league.

Although Greenlaw only played 26 snaps in Seattle, San Francisco hung on for a 32-29 victory over its NFC West rival. The Greenlaw-less 49ers relied on rookie fifth-rounder Jaden Dugger and Luke Gifford alongside Warner for the rest of the game. It could be a similar setup at linebacker next Monday against the Commanders if Greenlaw’s appeal fails.