The San Francisco 49ers hoped to retain Dre Greenlaw this offseason—even after the linebacker agreed to a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Denver Broncos.
Speaking on Denver's Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed that the 49ers attempted to persuade Greenlaw to back out of the deal and re-sign with San Francisco (h/t Joaquin Ruiz of NBC Sports Bay Area for the find).
"The Niners were trying to get back Dre Greenlaw, even after Denver had an agreement done with him," Schefter said. "They were pushing to get that done, and they were trying to flip his decision in this world that we live in, where people commit, and there are agreements.
"The Niners tried to flip Dre Greenlaw back to San Francisco, and I think they were pretty persuasive, but not persuasive enough. And I think Dre Greenlaw stood his ground and kind of stayed with Denver."
"I think they killed it! I think they hit free agency just right." @AdamSchefter believes the Broncos have had a very productive offseason so far.#BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/LGIsDaKcLC
— 92.5 FM - Denver's Altitude Sports Radio (@AltitudeSR) March 17, 2025
Schefter doesn't note what the 49ers offered to persuade Greenlaw to ditch the Broncos deal and return.
The 49ers had expressed interest in bringing Greenlaw back for the 2025 season but allowed him to test his value in free agency. Greenlaw missed most of last season while recovering from the torn Achilles he suffered in Super Bowl LVIII. He appeared in only two games before a separate setback sidelined him for the final two games of the season.
Despite their efforts, the 49ers' attempt to lure Greenlaw back fell short, costing them a fan and locker room favorite.
San Francisco drafted Greenlaw in the fifth round out of Arkansas in 2019. Over six NFL seasons, he recorded 455 tackles (18 for a loss), three interceptions, two touchdowns, 3.5 sacks, and 14 passes defensed.
