The San Francisco 49ers’ offseason has been one of the most praised of 2026, especially due to the signing of Mike Evans and the trade for Osa Odighizuwa. But one move that internally seems to have reignited a spark on defense is the return of Dre Greenlaw to the linebacker group.
Fred Warner, in particular, appears to be thrilled about the return of his teammate, with whom he has always had excellent chemistry on the field, forming one of the best linebacker duos in the NFL. He spoke on a podcast about how this could be the move that changes the 49ers in 2026.
Why Fred Warner Is Excited to Have Dre Greenlaw Back with the 49ers
For six years, Warner and Greenlaw were one of the best linebacker duos in the NFL. During that span, Greenlaw dealt with multiple injuries and only played a full season during his rookie year. Even so, when he was on the field, his impact was undeniable.
After the injury he suffered in the Super Bowl that sidelined him for almost the entire 2024 season, Greenlaw signed with the Denver Broncos but played just 8 games, again due to injury. During those 8 games, however, he showed he is still an excellent linebacker, ranking 34th in the PFSN LB Impact Meter.
On the “Real Ones” podcast, Warner spoke with Cooper Kupp, wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, about the return of his teammate, saying opponents should once again fear the duo because of a hidden advantage that is not easy to replicate with just any players but one that he and Greenlaw possess.
“Every single time I played with Dre for like the seven years we played together, there’s an unspoken language on the field,” Warner said. “It’s unspoken. Like we’re moving together in unison and it was so easy.”
This communication, or lack of it, became evident in 2025 for the 49ers when Warner was injured. The absence of experienced linebackers on the field exposed Tatum Bethune, who played well but could not provide the same level of tactical organization the team had with Warner. Adding Greenlaw makes that connection much easier.
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San Francisco’s linebacker unit now becomes deeper than it was last season. With Warner and Greenlaw as the starters and Dee Winters and Bethune as immediate backups, the group offers the perfect mix of experience and youth, allowing the team to handle injuries without as much concern.
The 49ers defense ranked 26th in the PFSN Defense Impact Meter in 2025, a reflection of the constant injuries to stars like Nick Bosa, Warner, Mykel Williams, and other role players. The expectation is that with Raheem Morris taking over as defensive coordinator and the return of key players, this unit can get back to an elite level this season.
