Of course, that's when Warner and the rest of the players are there at the facility. They haven't been able to enter the building this offseason due to precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Papa joked that the State of the Franchise discussion may have been the first time he's seen Warner without that football.
"I give all the credit to Kwon (Alexander)," Warner explained. "He's the one who started that. Kwon, he brought this mindset to the entire defense, the entire team from the moment he got on the squad.
"Carrying around the football is just reminding you that the ball is everything. When you're out there on the field, I'm constantly trying to attack the ball, and I think that's the mindset of everybody on our defense. And I think you saw that game in and game out when we were creating takeaways (last season) for the team."
Warner, a third-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2018, is entering his third NFL season. He registered 118 tackles, three sacks, nine passes defensed, an interception, a touchdown, and three forced fumbles through 16 games last season, per Pro Football Reference.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers Brandon Aiyuk trade: Why moving him now makes sense—and why it doesn't
The 49ers' return window for Brandon Aiyuk closes April 1, offering the Niners one final opportunity to trade him and move on from a contract decision they reportedly never wanted to make. No, it's not April Fools, but it sure feels a lot like Groundhog Day. Just months after... -
Report: 49ers outbid Broncos for Dre Greenlaw, but the linebacker sought 'fresh start'
Several factors contributed to Dre Greenlaw's departure from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. Money played a significant role, as the linebacker signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Denver Broncos. Greenlaw's exit is seen as one of the 49ers' most impactful... -
Florio: Brock Purdy may never become a top QB, so why should the 49ers pay him like one?
Mike Florio's hot takes frequently spark debate among NFL fans, and his latest comments about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will probably be no exception. As the 49ers enter contract extension talks with Purdy—talks expected to make him one of the NFL's... -
Why 49ers' Nick Bosa is a top-5 defensive centerpiece
NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks recently ranked the top defensive centerpieces he'd build an NFL roster around. Topping the list are two dominant pass rushers—Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett—which comes as no surprise. Both are under 30 and widely considered among...