49ers irritant Deommodore Lenoir fined for headbutting Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba
While the Seattle Seahawks were busy wrecking the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round, talkative 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was busy headbutting Jaxon Smith-Njigba. This happened in the third quarter of Seattle's eventual 41-6 romp, and didn't draw a flag, but cameras were rolling.
Nobody likes a bad loser, Deommodore pic.twitter.com/Gq85QjjrEO
- Rob Staton (@robstaton) January 18, 2026
This was always going to lead to some sort of financial punishment for Lenoir, who's been fined $20,944 for use of the helmet." Lenoir has developed a reputation for being an irritant with his trash-talking and constant mixing it up with opposition, and as recently as last season he got worked in a skirmish with Kenneth Walker.
Kenneth Walker and Deommodore Lenoir get into a scuffle on the field #49erspic.twitter.com/x34uFmEm9H
- Alex Tran (@nineralex) November 17, 2024
Lenoir's post-game interview was amusing, too. No excuses, but [insert excuse here] is always a favorite go-to line after an embarrassment.
Deommodore Lenoir said tonight's game would have been a "landslide" if the 49ers had been healthy.
- KNBR (@KNBR) January 18, 2026
"To have those guys, [it would have been] a totally different game. But I mean we can't make no excuses. We had enough guys in here to get the job done." pic.twitter.com/H4ST3ePaY6
By the way, Lenoir wasn't the only 49er fined after this game. Linebacker Dee Winters was docked $5,907 for a hip-drop tackle on Rashid Shaheed, although I doubt anyone watching it live thought this was anything malicious or illegal.
The NFL also fined Dee Winters $5,907 for what was deemed a hip-drop tackle on Rashid Shaheed. pic.twitter.com/BNHGVOUab8
- Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) January 24, 2026