San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected from Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles following an altercation on the sideline, and head coach Kyle Shanahan clearly does not feel the punishment fit the crime.
The 49ers were leading 21-6 early in the second half when Greenlaw drew a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. Greenlaw was flagged for slamming Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith to the ground after the whistle blew. The play happened near Philadelphia’s sideline, and longtime Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro stepped in to assist Smith.
Replays showed that DiSandro put his arm out and made contact with Greenlaw while trying to get the linebacker away from Smith. Greenlaw then stuck his hand out and made contact with DiSandro’s face. You can see the video here.
Both Greenlaw and DiSandro were ejected. After his team’s convincing 42-19 victory, Shanahan was asked about the altercation. He ripped DiSandro for getting involved.
Kyle Shanahan on the incident with Dre Greenlaw and Eagles Security Officer Dom DiSandro:
"I just can't believe someone not involved in a football game can taunt our players like that and put their hand in our guy's face." pic.twitter.com/PJcID8ycPx
— KNBR (@KNBR) December 4, 2023
“I tried my hardest not to lose my mind. Hopefully I didn’t embarrass myself too bad,” Shanahan told reporters. “I didn’t get to see it all from where I’m at but when I hear people starting to explain it to me and stuff … I just can’t believe someone not involved in a football game can taunt our players like that and put their hands in our guy’s face. From what I was told, Dre did it back to him. I was told that he kind of mashed him in the face a little bit, so he got ejected. It was a very frustrating play. I have to watch it to have a true opinion on it, but I loved how we rallied after.”
DiSandro did not put his hand in Greenlaw’s face, so that part of what Shanahan was told was inaccurate. The issue from the 49ers’ perspective is that DiSandro, who is chief of security for the Eagles, stepped in and pushed Greenlaw away from Smith. It is not part of DiSandro’s job to get involved with scuffles between players, which is obviously why Shanahan was upset over the situation.
Fortunately for San Francisco, Greenlaw was not needed. The Niners blew the Eagles out in the NFC Championship Game rematch.
