49ers defender headbutts Seahawks star during blowout playoff loss
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San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was seen headbutting Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba during their crushing playoff loss on Saturday night.
The incident occurred in the second half of the game. Lenoir and Smith-Njigba had a few words before the defensive player slammed his helmet into the Seahawks receiver’s mask. No penalty was given because it appeared the officials missed the incident.
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Deommodore Lenoir of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a play against the Seahawks at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Smith-Njigba had the last laugh as Seattle won the game, 41-6. Smith-Njigba had three receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown. His brother shot a post aimed at Lenoir after the game.
“Jax always wanted a little brother to bully. Welcome to the family,” Canaan Smith-Njigba wrote in X.
Lenoir had three tackles during the game, but the entire defense had a difficult time covering Sam Darnold and the rest of the Seahawks offense.
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Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown during the divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle had 281 total yards and the Seahawks defense forced three turnovers.
Lenoir said the game would have been a “landslide” in the 49ers’ favor if the team was fully healthy.
“Having those guys back, I mean, it’s going to be a totally different game,” he said via KNBR. “But I mean, we can’t make excuses. We had enough guys here to get the job done. So I feel like today is not going our way.”
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III carries the ball for a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers’ Deommodore Lenoir follows the play at Lumen Field on Jan. 17, 2026. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)
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Seattle will play the winner of the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears divisional round game in the NFC Championship.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at News Digital.