Warner joined KNBR on Thursday night and briefly discussed trying to live up to the standard Willis and Bowman set in San Francisco.
"Those guys set [the bar] pretty high, obviously," Warner said. "They are legends around here. Obviously, I have to try to meet that expectation, and that holds a lot of weight, puts a lot of weight on my shoulders. I feel like I'm built for it and I just try to grind every single day to improve to reach that level someday. I just take it one day at a time."
Warner also discussed the surreal experience of being in his first NFL season and lining up against players he grew up watching and admiring.
"That first preseason game was kind of where I was starstruck," Warner said. "I didn't even play in that game. It was against the Cowboys, and I see Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, dudes like that. They walk out for the coin toss, and I'm standing there like, 'Man, those dudes are right there.'"
Since then, Warner has started each of the 49ers' nine games this season. He has accumulated 73 combined tackles, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble during his rookie campaign.
Warner's tackle total leads the defense and ranks No. 5 overall in the NFL. That doesn't mean he has gotten over being starstruck, at times.
"It's for sure still surreal when I'm lined up out there at Lambeau Field away from Aaron Rodgers," Warner continued. "It's crazy to think about it now, but in the moment, you're just playing football."
You can listen to the entire interview with Warner below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers LB Fred Warner earns PFWA All-NFL Team honors
The accolades continue to pour in for Fred Warner. The San Francisco 49ers linebacker has already earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for his stellar performance during the 2024 season. The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) has now named Warner to its 2024... -
Steve Young: Brock Purdy needs extra support for 49ers to reach the Super Bowl
Surrounded by an abundance of talent, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy delivered a phenomenal, record-breaking 2023 season, throwing for 4,280 yards. However, his 2024 performance saw a dip, with 3,864 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 96.1 passer... -
Star player's wife 'a tad salty' about 49ers missing the playoffs
Kristin Juszczyk had different plans for January. She expected to spend the month watching football—but not from her couch. Instead, she anticipated cheering on her husband, San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, from NFL stadiums as the team made another postseason... -
PFF names 49ers' breakout candidate for 2025
Pro Football Focus contributor Bradley Locker recently identified one breakout candidate for every NFL team heading into 2025. The pick for the San Francisco 49ers was wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, a young player whose 2024 rookie campaign took an unexpected turn. The 49ers...