Eagles security chief Big Dom fined $75,000 for texting violation against Jets
Penalty upheld after appeal; team disputes scope of bench-area involvement; DiSandro remains a trusted team staffer
Big Dom DiSandro, the Eagles’ security chief, has been fined $75,000 by the NFL for texting from the Philadelphia sideline bench during the Aug. 22 preseason game against the Jets, multiple outlets reported. The Eagles appealed the penalty, contending that DiSandro — officially listed as the senior advisor to the general manager/chief security officer/gameday coaching operations — only had one foot in the bench area, but the league did not overturn the fine, according to NFL Network.
The Aug. 22 game served as the final tune-up for both teams ahead of the regular season, with Philadelphia beating New York 19-17. The matchup featured backups and players fighting for roster spots, and the stars for both sides — including the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown — did not play in Philadelphia’s win.
DiSandro, who joined the Eagles in 1999, is entering his 27th season with the franchise. He has long been a visible, widely respected figure around Philadelphia’s practice fields and sidelines. Head coach Nick Sirianni praised DiSandro earlier this year, telling reporters on Super Bowl media day that nobody does their job better in the NFL than Big Dom, and that he is “awesome” and “the definition of team.” The sentiment was echoed by Sirianni as part of a broader tribute to DiSandro’s work ethic and service to the organization.
DiSandro’s sideline prominence drew national attention after a 2023 incident that went viral, when he was involved in a sideline altercation with then-49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Both players were ejected from the Dec. 3, 2023 game, and DiSandro was banned from the Eagles’ sidelines for the remainder of that season before being cleared to return at the start of the 2024 playoffs.
The current penalty comes as the Eagles began their title-defense with consecutive wins over the Cowboys and Chiefs, and as they navigated a late-season push in search of another deep playoff run. They also remained in contention in a recent game, where they trailed the Rams late in regulation before ultimately mounting a comeback drive.