HOUSTON, TX — The NFL has officially handed down one of its harshest rulings of the 2025 season, fining Will Anderson Jr. $20,000 and suspending him for one game following his controversial hit on 49ers quarterback Mac Jones during the Week 8 showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans.
The play occurred late in the fourth quarter with 1:55 remaining as the 49ers trailed 23–15, fighting for a comeback. Anderson beat left tackle Trent Williams off the edge and delivered a powerful blow to Jones’ upper back and neck area just 0.2 seconds after the quarterback released the football. The contact altered the throw’s trajectory, leading to a decisive interception by cornerback Kamari Lassiter in the end zone that sealed Houston’s win.
FOX Sports and ESPN replays clearly showed Anderson lowering his helmet and driving through Jones, whose head snapped back violently as he fell. According to Rule 12, Section 2, Article 10
of the NFL rulebook, any forcible contact to the head or neck area of a passer — even immediately after the release — shall constitute roughing the passer. No flag was thrown on the field, sparking outrage among 49ers fans and analysts who labeled the sequence “a blatant miss.”
Following an internal review by the NFL Officiating Department, the league determined the hit “exceeded the standards of legal contact” and “should have been penalized.” Anderson’s punishment makes him the first defensive lineman in 2025 to receive a suspension for a missed on-field roughing call.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the decision directly in a league statement:
“Quarterbacks are the most vulnerable players on the field, and the league has a duty to protect them. What happened in Houston went beyond the threshold of acceptable contact. This is not about intent — it’s about accountability. Every defender must recognize that safety is not negotiable.”
The Texans will now face Week 9 without one of their premier edge rushers, a major blow to a defensive line that has fueled the team’s 7–1 start. Head coach DeMeco Ryans declined to comment but noted that the organization plans to appeal the suspension.
For San Francisco, the post-game ruling offered a measure of vindication. “If that flag is thrown, we’re likely playing for the tie,” one 49ers assistant coach told ESPN anonymously. “It doesn’t change the loss, but it at least restores some fairness.”
The incident has reignited debate about officiating consistency in roughing-the-passer calls, which have risen 12 percent this season. Critics argue that enforcement has become “reactionary” rather than standardized, while league officials maintain that safety remains paramount.
Whether upheld or reduced, the punishment sends a clear message: dominance in the trenches cannot come at the expense of player protection. As the NFL tightens its grip on quarterback safety, defenders like Anderson will be forced to adapt — or pay the price.
