Dom DiSandro, who goes by Big Dom for the Philadelphia Eagles, found his name on the front page of the newspaper during the Eagles’ upset loss to the San Francisco 49ers. After failing to resist his anger and frustration, the security officer engaged in an ugly and unaccepted brawl with 49ers defensive lineman Dre Greenlaw.
The momentum was unexpected, requiring the league to eject both of them from the game. As the league is considering getting rid of this kind of act from security officers like DiSandro with added punishment, the 4ers coach came forward in support of the Eagles security officer.
Kyle Shanahan backs Dom DiSandro
Dom DiSandro, a stalwart presence with the Eagles organization since 1999, fulfilling the role of head of security for players, coaches, and staff, found himself entangled in an unusual confrontation with Greenlaw
The incident took place in the third quarter when Dre Greenlaw incurred a penalty for a forceful takedown of DeVonta Smith on the sidelines. What followed was an unexpected clash between the Eagles’ security officer and Greenlaw. Despite the intensity of the situation, San Francisco’s head coach, Kyle Shanahan, displayed a nuanced response, expressing no “hard feelings” towards DiSandro.
Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, Shanahan defended DiSandro, recognizing that he was caught in both a “weird and emotional” moment. Shanahan highlighted DiSandro’s positive reputation, emphasizing that he didn’t want undue criticism directed at him. Yet, he made it plain to not see the security officer again in that area.
“I definitely don’t have any hard feelings towards Dom or anything like that. I don’t want anyone to go too hard on him. I think he just got caught in a weird situation and an emotional situation. So, no hard feelings towards him. I know a lot of people who know him and speak very highly of him. I just couldn’t believe we lost our player because of it.”
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan took a softer stance toward Eagles security guy Dom DiSandro today, saying he’s heard DiSandro is a good guy and he hopes punishment isn’t too harsh:
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) December 4, 2023
“There’s nothing he did that was extraordinarily bad. He just shouldn’t be around that area.”
Meanwhile, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni extended an apology to Shanahan for the incident in spite of claiming his officer was innocent, per Yahoo Sports. Sirianni clarified that the apology was a gesture of respect towards Shanahan and his team. Despite the controversy, Sirianni vouched for DiSandro’s professionalism and clarified his role in diffusing situations.
“It was really more so to say to Kyle, we respect you guys and your team. That’s what that was about,” Sirianni said. “I haven’t heard anything from the league. Dom is as good as they get in this business. I’m so thankful for him. He’s going to always try to diffuse situations, right? That’s what he does. That’s his job.
Nevertheless, prior to the apology, Shanahan had expressed his dissatisfaction, struggling to comprehend the interference of an unrelated party in the game, particularly someone taunting players and encroaching on their space.
NFL allegedly preparing for “ significant punishment” for Dom DiSandro
The NFL is gearing up for what is anticipated to be a “significant punishment” for Dom DiSandro after his involvement in the brawl during the recent game against the San Francisco 49ers.
A high-level executive predicted impending repercussions for both DiSandro and the Eagles organization. The senior advisor’s act of touching 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw to intervene in the scuffle has triggered discussions about the boundaries of non-players during in-game incidents.
NEWS: #Eagles head of security Dom DiSandro is expected to receive a “SIGNIFICANT PUNISHMENT” and so will the team, one high-level #NFL executive predicts.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 4, 2023
(Via PFT) pic.twitter.com/QuHQQ2I1YZ
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk emphasized the league’s stance on non-players inserting themselves into game actions. He noted that team security officials are not designated as in-game bouncers, and maintaining peace on the field is the responsibility of the officials.
It can increase the risk of losing access to the game area for individuals who step into game action, citing the NFL’s heightened rules on fights between players and coaching staff during games.
The NFL’s stringent approach to such incidents has been evident in recent cases, notably the punishment of Miami-based photographer Kevin Fitzgibbons for his involvement in Tyreek Hill’s backflip celebration during the Dolphins’ Week 6 victory against the Panthers.
The league’s growing intolerance for unauthorized involvement in on-field activities reflects its commitment to maintaining the integrity and professionalism of NFL games.
