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49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro ejected after sideline scuffle
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- 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro ejected after sideline scuffle
PHILADELPHIA – The bad blood between the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers has been brewing and well-documented. But the negative feelings toward one another took a turn for the worst during the game.
Niners linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected along with Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro following an altercation on the Eagles' sideline during the third quarter. Greenlaw had slammed Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith to the ground after Smith stepped out of bounds.
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Officials threw a flag for the late hit but the situation escalated when DiSandro separated Smith and Greenlaw. The refs attempted to diffuse the situation, but DiSandro shoved Greenlaw and the linebacker's left hand made contact with DiSandro's face.
Greenlaw was disqualified and, after some protesting, DiSandro was forced to leave the field. Eagles fans sent him off with a hearty ovation.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) looks on after an argument with Philadelphia Eagles players during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia.
According to a pool report with NFL senior vice president of officiating Walt Anderson, the league office used video to review the play.
"(Greenlaw) made contact with the staff member which warranted his disqualification," Anderson said. "The non-player, he was contributing to that escalation."
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DiSandro, as a non-player, could not be flagged for the dust-up, Anderson clarified.
After the game, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said that although he couldn't see what was happening among the mass of bodies across the field, he tried to keep his cool as the situation was explained to him.
"I tried my hardest not to lose my mind," Shanahan said. "I hope I didn't embarrass myself too bad."
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni lobbied for the ejection of Greenlaw. But Shanahan said that the two spoke after the game and that the Eagles coach was just as displeased with the altercation as he was.
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The Niners, however, felt a line was crossed with a team staffer putting hands on an opposing player.
"I just can't believe someone uninvolved in a football game can taunt our players like that and put their hands in our guy's face," Shanahan said. "From what I was told, Dre did it back to him, and I was told that he 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. I love how we rallied after."
DiSandro, whose title also includes "senior adviser to the general manager," has worked for the Eagles since 1999 and "oversees all safety and security matters for players, coaches, and executives," according to the team.
Several players, including Philadelphia wideout A.J. Brown , connected with DiSandro on their way to the locker room, which he guarded as per usual.
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The Eagles and Niners have engaged in a public beef for the better part of the last year, dating back to the 2022 NFC championship game. Quarterback Brock Purdy was knocked out in the first quarter, and the Eagles went on to cruise to a 31-7 victory, with Niners players downplaying the outcome in the ensuing months.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dom DiSandro, Dre Greenlaw ejected after 49ers-Eagles sideline scuffle
