Greenlaw appeared in just two games last season after returning from an Achilles injury. The 49ers had hoped to bring him back, but a roster overhaul and unwillingness to overspend allowed the Denver Broncos to swoop in and sign the veteran linebacker.
"My brother!!" Warner wrote via Instagram (h/t Andy Lindquist of NBC Sports Bay Area). "One of the baddest boys to ever touch that green grass. We had moments that'll last a lifetime and they always remember how we rocked out everytime!! Ain't no 5-4 without 5-7. Go be legendary brudda, love always."
Warner had campaigned for Greenlaw's return, and it was reported that returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh also hoped to keep the fan-favorite linebacker.
"That's the guy, I feel like, that has allowed me to ascend in this league," Warner said of Greenlaw last month. "... because of his ascension and the type of player that he is, how unselfish of a player that he is, how ferocious of a human being in a player that he is. And so, people, they look at me, but you can't see me without him, so I hope we get him back."
Greenlaw isn't the only notable departure. The 49ers have also parted ways with safety Talanoa Hufanga, who joins Greenlaw in Denver, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, cornerback Charvarius Ward, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and several others.
San Francisco selected Greenlaw (6-0, 230) out of Arkansas in the fifth round (No. 148 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has recorded 455 tackles (18 for a loss), nine quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, 14 passes defensed, three interceptions, two touchdowns, and two forced fumbles in 64 games (56 starts) over his six NFL seasons, per Pro Football Reference.
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article?
Report it.
Report it.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward attracting interest from other teams
Charvarius Ward is not expected to return to the San Francisco 49ers in 2025. The cornerback didn't completely rule out a return, but the emotional trauma associated with the Bay Area after the passing of his daughter had him eying a change of scenery. Additionally, the 49ers... -
Dre Greenlaw leaving 49ers for Broncos on a 3-year, $35 million deal
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw tested free agency and found a new home. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report that the star defender is leaving the Bay Area to sign with the Denver Broncos, where he will join safety Talanoa Hufanga. Broncos reached... -
49ers mailbag: Will Brandon Aiyuk be traded? Are the 49ers rebuilding? When will Jake Moody be cut? Untouchable players?
It's been a week that fans of the San Francisco 49ers won't soon forget. After watching the team cut some popular players and fail to sign many of its own free agents while seemingly not doing much to improve the team, the fanbase has been a little traumatized over the past six... -
Which 2025 NFL Draft picks do the 49ers own after trading Jordan Mason?
The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 24. The first round will take place that night, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 25, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 26. The San Francisco 49ers currently hold 11 picks in this...