Getty
San Francisco 49ers LBs Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw
The San Francisco 49ers were hit with a big loss this offseason when defensive coordinator Robert Saleh left to take the head-coaching job with the Tennessee Titans.
Saleh was praised for the job he did with the defensive unit after suffering major season-ending losses to defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, plus being without star rookie edge-rusher Mykel Williams for half the season as well as various other injuries.
While it’s a tall order replacing a coordinator the caliber of Saleh, the 49ers hired a replacement a tier below him in former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris. And they’re giving him a stronger supporting cast than what Saleh had last year.
Warner Raves About 49ers’ Dre Greenlaw Reunion
GettySan Francisco 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw
After a season with the Denver Broncos, fan-favorite linebacker Dre Greenlaw is returning to the 49ers, where he spent the first six years of his career.
The entire locker room likely celebrated the news, and perhaps no one is happier to have Greenlaw back in the fold than Warner, who played right beside the 28-year-old LB from 2019 to 2024.
During a recent episode of the “Real Ones” podcast, Warner raved about playing with Greenlaw again and putting Seattle Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp on notice that SF’s defense was going to be a problem in 2026.
“It’s bad for you, it’s bad for old (Rams QB) Matthew (Stafford), man, it’s bad for everybody going forward,” Warner said.
“… You just love playing with guys like that who are just willing to give it up. No matter what the situation is, he’ll look you dead in your eye and this guy is not playing around. He is looking to tear somebody’s head off. It’s going to be good to have him back.”
Kupp’s response to having Greenlaw back in the division was filled with snark: “I’m looking forward to seeing you guys be awful and terrible and watching you guys on film and being like, ‘Gosh, these guys are so annoying.’”
Greenlaw Makes the 49ers Defense Dangerous
GettySan Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium
Greenlaw played in just 8 games with Denver last season, logging 43 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception across 386 defensive snaps.
But during his early years in San Francisco, he and Warner formed arguably the best linebacker duo in the NFL. In the four seasons he played 13 or more games, Greenlaw totaled 85 or more tackles in each, and he was one of the top LBs in coverage.
Warner says 49ers fans can expect more of the same in 2026.
“It’s different when you got a rapport and a connection with somebody, where every single time I played with Dre for the seven years we played together, it’s an unspoken language on the field where I don’t have to turn to him and be like, ‘Hey, Dre, look for this,’” Warner continued. “It was unspoken; we’re moving together in unison and it was so easy.
“We just had this great vibe with one another on and off the field. And so, it allows you to play even more free when you got a cat like that. And I’ve played with great linebackers — I played with Dee Winters last year, Kwon Alexander, and a ton of other ones — but Dre, he’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever played with on the field and just so ferocious and relentless in the way that he plays the game.”
Michael Gallagher Michael Gallagher is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He has more than a decade of experience working for both local and national news outlets covering the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football, and MMA. His work has been featured in Newsweek, Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, Athlon Sports, The Hockey News, the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, and Yardbarker. More about Michael Gallagher
More Heavy on 49ers
Loading more stories