Frustration boils over as a Seahawks rout triggers a bizarre headbutt, sealing the 49ers' playoff humiliation and a likely league fine.
Saturday night in Seattle was already over early. Deommodore Lenoir just made sure everyone remembered it.
As the Seahawks steamrolled the 49ers 41-6 in the divisional round at Lumen Field, frustration boiled over for San Francisco’s cornerback in a moment that perfectly summed up the night.
Midway through the third quarter, with the 49ers trailing 27-6 and grasping for answers, Lenoir did the one thing you absolutely can’t do on a national playoff stage - he headbutted Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Yes. Helmet to helmet. In full view. On a night already going sideways.
Smith-Njigba had walked toward Lenoir following a Seahawks play when the corner snapped, delivering a blatant headbutt that immediately caught the attention of officials - and soon after, the internet.
If the 49ers were hoping to claw their way back into the game, that moment slammed the door shut.
It wasn’t even about production. Smith-Njigba finished with just three catches for 19 yards, largely because Seattle’s run game was busy bulldozing San Francisco into submission.
But one of those catches mattered plenty - a first-quarter touchdown that helped push the Seahawks to a 17-0 lead before the 49ers had time to blink.
That early score set the tone. The rest of the night turned into a clinic by Seattle and a slow unraveling by San Francisco.
For Lenoir, it was a rough continuation of a season filled with unwanted highlights.
Just months ago, he went viral for getting cooked by Ashton Jeanty, and Saturday night added another clip to the reel - this one far more costly.
The NFL rarely lets headbutts slide, especially in the playoffs, and Lenoir is almost certainly looking at a fine. A suspension to open next season isn’t out of the question either.
From Seattle’s perspective, the incident was just background noise in a dominant performance.
The Seahawks led 17-0 after one quarter, 24-6 at halftime, and spent the rest of the night rotating pass rushers and draining the clock.
Kenneth Walker ran wild. The defense smothered Brock Purdy. The crowd smelled blood early and never let up.
Sometimes a rivalry loss hurts because it’s close. This one hurt because it was humiliating.
And when a cornerback starts throwing headbutts instead of covering receivers, it’s a clear sign the game - and the season - are officially over.
Seattle advanced. San Francisco melted down. And Deommodore Lenoir will be hearing from the league office soon.