The San Francisco 49ers lost linebacker Dre Greenlaw to an ejection after a sideline brawl about 512 minutes into the third quarter. Dom DiSandro, the Philadelphia Eagles’ security director, was also fired.
It was the kind of trade-off that the Eagles plainly won, but it also left the 49ers and coach Kyle Shanahan fuming on the bench.
“That’s why I tried really hard not to lose my mind and not embarrass myself too much,” Shanahan remarked following his team’s 42-19 triumph.
Greenlaw tackled Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith near the Philadelphia sideline with 9:27 left in the third quarter following a 13-yard completion. Greenlaw smashed Smith to the ground and lifted him off his feet, drawing a penalty flag for unnecessary roughness.
Eagles staff and players raced up to Greenlaw and Smith as they stood up and began arguing back and forth with Greenlaw and several of his teammates.
DiSandro took a step toward Greenlaw, who yelled at him and extended his arm. Greenlaw’s hand appeared to make contact with DiSandro’s face while pointing at him, resulting in the disqualification.
“I didn’t get to see it all from where I’m at,” Shanahan admitted. “But when I started hearing people explain it to me and stuff, I just can’t believe someone who isn’t even in a football game can taunt our players like that and put their hands in our guys’ faces, and from what I was told, Dre did it back to him and [I] was told he kind of mashed him in the face a little bit so he got ejected.” However, it was an extremely frustrating game.”
As linebacker Fred Warner headed back to the San Francisco sideline with Greenlaw, the referees had a lengthy discussion with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, who was pushing his case for an ejection. As Warner and Greenlaw went, Warner said he observed Eagles players waving goodbye as Greenlaw told his side of the story.
“It was such a big loss in that moment to lose him,” Warner told reporters. “That was another moment where we had to make an adjustment and stand up.”
Shanahan was extremely upset when the decision was made, storming onto the field and yelling at the officials. Greenlaw dashed to the locker room amid a barrage of boos from Eagles fans. DiSandro was also pulled from the game, although he left to a standing ovation from Philadelphia fans.
According to a pool report with Walt Anderson, the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating, there was a review from New York of what occurred during “continuing action.” According to the evaluation, DiSandro was “contributing to the escalation” of the disagreement. While the regulations do not permit a retroactive flag to be thrown on DiSandro for his participation, they do permit an ejection. Greenlaw was ejected for making contact with a non-player.
“That should never be in question, one of their guys interacting with the player on the sideline,” Warner was quoted as saying. “So, it is what it is.”
Following their altercation on the sidelines, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw and Eagles head of security Dom DiSandro were both ejected from Sunday’s game in Philadelphia.Sports Photographer Bill Streicher/USA TODAY
DiSandro has been with the Eagles since 1999, serving as a senior assistant to general manager Howie Roseman. Following the game, he was in the tunnel greeting Eagles players as they walked to the locker room.
“I saw Dom get booted — that kind of pissed me off, to be honest,” Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata said. “All I could think was, ‘Why is he getting kicked off?'” There was a lot of activity going on. We tried to ask the refs, but they wouldn’t tell us anything. Then I heard the side judge say, ‘Why isn’t he going off?’ I saw him pointing at Dom and then Dom walked away.”
At the time of his dismissal, Greenlaw led San Francisco in tackles with seven. Five plays later, quarterback Jalen Hurts scored a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the Niners’ advantage to 21-13.
Veteran Oren Burks stepped in for Greenlaw and finished with four tackles. After Hurts’ touchdown, the Niners outscored Philadelphia 21-6 to close the game.
“I loved how we rallied after it,” Shanahan said.
Sirianni told Shanahan at midfield after the game that he, too, was unhappy with how the play unfolded. Sirianni, according to Shanahan, handled the situation “with total class.”
Greenlaw has a habit of committing needless roughness penalties, having received two this season and five in his regular-season career.
Greenlaw received an unnecessary roughness penalty for a hit on running back Kenneth Gainwell in the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles in January, as well as an infraction for holding running back Boston Scott’s face mask.
Still, the Niners see Greenlaw as a defensive leader and do not want him to abandon his aggressive style, simply temper it.
“Dre has really been the enforcer for this defense since we got here in ’19,” defensive end Nick Bosa said. “And that’s what makes him who he is, so we’re not going to criticize him for it.” But he knows he can’t in those situation. And it was an excellent learning experience for the future. I doubt he’ll make the same mistake again.”
