Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly’s retirement at 28-years-old sent a ripple effect through the league that reached as far west as San Francisco.
Kuechly was arguably the best player at his position every year he was in the league. The 49ers have an up and coming superstar at linebacker as well in Fred Warner.
The gravity of the five-time All-Pro’s sudden retirement after eight seasons wasn’t lost on Warner, who’s playing in his first postseason in his second year in the league.
He told Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group that Kuechly was one of the players he emulated when learning the position.
“Luke’s one of the best to ever do it,” Warner said via Inman’s Twitter account. “It’s a pretty big shock to me. It’s a guy I studied closely. My hats off to him.”
The 49ers would be exceptionally lucky if Warner reached Kuechly’s level. Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro in eight seasons, and was regularly one of the best players in the league against the run and in coverage. He amassed 1,092 tackles, 12.5 sacks 66 pass breakups and 18 interceptions in 118 games in the NFL.
Warner is on his way to reaching elite status thanks to his ability to be effective on the ground and through the air. However, he’s yet to make a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team, so he has a ways to go to match the Panthers legend. It’s a good track to be on though, and if Warner even comes close to Kuechly’s level of production, the 49ers defense will be very good for a long time.