Broncos’ Dre Greenlaw suspended 1 game for conduct toward ref
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Check out the best moments from Week 7 in the NFL, including the Broncos’ historic comeback vs. the Giants. (1:29)
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Jeff LegwoldOct 20, 2025, 06:29 PM ET
- Jeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years and also assists with NFL draft coverage, joining ESPN in 2013. He has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999, too. Jeff previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans at previous stops prior to ESPN.
Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw was suspended one game by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct toward a referee following Sunday’s win against the New York Giants, the league announced Monday.
According to the NFL’s statement, Greenlaw «chased after referee Brad Allen and verbally threatened him as he tried to leave the field.»
Video posted by a CBS Colorado reporter shows Greenlaw’s encounter with Allen.
Video of Dre Greenlaw: https://t.co/TRtxJ0WQfH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 20, 2025
The NFL said Greenlaw violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(b), which prohibits «the use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.»
Greenlaw has three days to appeal his suspension under the collective bargaining agreement.
If he does not appeal or the suspension is upheld, he would sit out the Broncos’ practices this week and Sunday’s home game against the Dallas Cowboys. The suspension would also cost him a game check in the amount of $192,778.
Sunday marked Greenlaw’s first game with Denver after he signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract in March. He did not play in the preseason or in the first six games of the regular season because of thigh injuries.
Against the Giants, Greenlaw played 21 snaps and finished with six tackles and a quarterback hit as the Broncos stormed back from a 19-0 fourth-quarter deficit to win 33-32 and improve to 5-2.
Broncos coach Sean Payton has consistently lauded the physicality and athleticism Greenlaw could bring to the Denver defense. Despite his injuries over the years, Greenlaw, who spent his first six seasons with San Francisco, has been one of the league’s most impactful off-ball linebackers — he has had four 80-tackle seasons and 14 career passes defensed.
