During Week 13 of the NFL season, a sideline encounter between an active player and a team staff member led to the NFL sending a memo to all clubs on Wednesday.
Following a skirmish between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the memo emphasized the importance of game-day personnel understanding their roles and avoiding physical contact with opposing players.
The league’s message, which was obtained by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, was prompted by an incident in which 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was involved in a confrontation with Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith near the sidelines, leading to the league reminding all teams to prevent such interactions.
This particular incident resulted in Greenlaw being ejected from the game and the league reiterating the importance of adhering to the playing rules and game operations policies.
According to the memo, non-player staff are prohibited from making physical contact with opposing players and are required to allow coaches and game officials to handle on-field situations.
The league’s investigation into the matter is ongoing.
