Tag: fred warner

49ers defensive captain has no doubt about who team’s franchise QB is

Fred Warner: Big Brock Purdy guy.

While San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has received very public votes of confidence from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, there’s still some questions in the general NFL discourse about whether the 49ers will actually pay Purdy this offseason.

Purdy, a 2022 draft pick, is extension-eligible for the first time. He appears to be on track for a sizable new contract. One person who doesn’t have any questions about Purdy is 49ers defensive captain, All-Pro and vocal team leader Fred Warner.

Warner in an interview with Dianna Russini on her podcast, ‘Scoop City,’ gave a full endorsement of Purdy as the team’s franchise QB.

“If you truly watch the tape,” Warner said, “and you watch all the other elite quarterbacks in this league, they all have a common thread amongst all of them in the fact they’re able to process the game at such a high level, being able to create plays with their feet, make the high level throws up and down the field – Brock Purdy does all these things. And he was in the MVP conversation a year ago, let’s not forget that. He took us to a Super Bowl and he gave us the lead before, obviously, Patrick Mahomes and them took it away from us in that Super Bowl.

“This is the guy. There’s no question. Everybody out there, if you have any questions about Brock Purdy, I’m here to tell you, I’m not biased, I know ball – he’s the guy.”

Warner has been a supporter of Purdy’s since the QB first took over as the starter late in the 2022 season. The two faced off in practice with Warner and the first-team defense going against Purdy when he ran the scout team.

A linebacker’s opinion of the QB may not typically carry a ton of weight. Warner’s voice carries weight in the 49ers locker room, though. That he’s so firmly backing Purdy with contract extension talks looming is a good indicator of where Purdy stands with his teammates and the organization.

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49ers superstar reveals why he’s excited for Robert Saleh’s return

It’s what Fred Warner didn’t say that jumps out.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner didn’t hide his excitement for the return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, but there were things he didn’t say that illustrate what Saleh’s return means for the 49ers’ defense.

That’s not a huge surprise given the tumult San Francisco has dealt with the last couple of years while cycling through defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen.

Saleh has a proven track record with Warner and the 49ers, and his addition to their coaching staff looks like an early offseason victory for San Francisco. Warner expressed his excitement in an interview with NBC Sports’ Jennifer Lee Chan at the Pro Bowl Games.

“It means a lot,” Warner said. “Obviously Coach Saleh has been amazing for us and for myself as a young player, so it’s gonna be interesting being the old guy now, myself, being with him again. It’s gonna be fun though.”

A clearer indication of what Saleh brings to the 49ers defense came from something Warner did not say.

Chan asked the All-Pro LB about Saleh’s energy and how it lifts up the 49ers defense. His response was telling:

“I mean, it’s contagious,” Warner said. “You see it. Him, DeMeco (Ryans), that was a big part of why we were so successful. And obviously the teaching portion of it all and making sure we’re all on the same page. It’s gonna be good to get him back.”

Saleh and Ryans were both high-energy coaches on the sidelines. That was not a quality possessed by Wilks nor Sorensen, and Warner omitting them both is telling.

Overt displays of excitement on the sideline aren’t the only requisite quality for a good defensive coordinator, but it’s been clear the last couple of years the 49ers edge has been lacking on that side of the ball. There have been other problems, too. Warner alludes to them when talking about teaching and being on the same page. Personnel has also been an issue that goes beyond the scope of a DC’s responsibilities.

Warner’s excitement and his reasons for it are good signs for the immediate future of the 49ers’ defense. They’ve got a handful of other tweaks to make, but just getting Saleh back on the sideline should help San Francisco right away.

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49ers legend Patrick Willis reveals favorite linebackers in today’s NFL

Pro Football Hall of Famer Patrick Willis reveals his favorite linebackers in today’s NFL w/ @EdEastonJr

This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Willis—on behalf of Verizon—discussed the First-Ever “Super Bowl FanFest,” which will bring a Super Bowl LIX experience to 30 NFL cities across the country. He also shared his thoughts on some of his favorite linebackers in the NFL today.

In a first-of-its-kind event, Verizon transforms stadiums and venues across all 30 NFL markets into a nationwide FanFest. Fans will enjoy free Super Bowl LIX Sunday celebrations with food and beverages from locally owned small businesses, meet-and-greets with local football heroes, live local music acts, interactive games, and unique football fan experiences.

Verizon customers can bring a select number of guests to FanFest to share the afternoon of celebrations with family and friends.

Willis played eight seasons in the NFL, all with the 49ers, earning numerous All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as one of the best linebackers to play the game. He opened up about some of his favorite players from his position group to watch in the league today.

“It’s kind of hard to compare,” Willis explained. “I’m a person. I don’t like to compare it. I always feel like everyone is their own individual. I will say there are some great linebacker play happening in the NFL. Maybe I’m a little biased, but I feel Fred (Warner) is still the number one linebacker, him and Roquan (Smith).

“feel like they are 1A, 1B. They’re both right there, and both are very good. The different things that they do make them All-Pros, which they are. I enjoy watching good football and seeing guys get after it, and I have a fanatical effort. Dre Greenlaw, when healthy, is one of the best. When Dre and Fred are together, man, they are a joy to watch.”

Smith and Warner were again first-team Associated Press All-Pro members for the 2024 season, continuing their exceptional play.

“I enjoy watching good defense, good football, and the play of Fred and Roquan,” Willis said. “I like Nakobe Dean from the (Philadelphia) Eagles; I’m just a fan of defenders, as I was when I was a kid. You had the people they show you; they say these are the superstars. I’ve always been one of the ones. I just watched the game, and you see the effort. You see guys getting after it, land, the boom, high energy, 100% effort. Those are guys I’ve always been a fan of, so I’m just a fan of the game, defenders, and those who get after it.”

Visit VerizonFanFest.com for a full list of events and locations and access to free tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. FanFests across the country will take place on Sunday, February 9, beginning at 4pm ET / 1pm PT.

Only 3 49ers named to Associated Press 2024 NFL All-Pro team

A trio of 49ers were honored for their respective campaigns as part of the Associated Press 2024 NFL All-Pro team.

49ers linebacker Fred Warner, tight end George Kittle and fullback Kyle Juszczyk were each named to the Associated Press 2024 NFL All-Pro team.

Warner was a first-team All-Pro selection defensively, while Kittle and Juszczyk were second-team All-Pro choices offensively.

Playing in all 17 games this season, Warner racked up a team-leading 131 tackles. The BYU alum also tallied seven passes defensed, five tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two interceptions and one sack.

It marks the third season consecutively that Warner has garnered first-team All-Pro honors. The 6-foot-3, 230 pound linebacker notched 115-plus tackles for a seventh consecutive season. In the process, Warner became one of just two players since 2000 to accomplish this feat in their first seven seasons.

Kittle played in 15 games this season, catching 78 passes for 1,106 yards with eight touchdowns. The Iowa alum became one of just five NFL tight ends all-time to have registered four 1,000-yard receiving seasons in their career.

Kittle joined the ranks of Travis Kelce (7), Tony Gonzalez (4), Rob Gronkowski (4) and Jason Witten (4) in that regard.

Among NFL tight ends, Kittle’s 2024 numbers ranked fifth in receptions, third in receiving yards and tops in yards per reception. The 6-foot-4, 250 pound tight end’s four 100-yard receiving games were the most of any tight end in the league. Kittle’s eight touchdowns were also the most of an NFC tight end.

Juszczyk earned his second career All-Pro nod. The Harvard product caught 19 passes for 200 yards and a pair of receiving scores and also carried five times for 26 yards with one rushing touchdown.

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49ers usual suspects named to 2025 Pro Bowl roster

4 49ers are headed to the Pro Bowl.

The San Francisco 49ers had a down year, but that won’t stop them from being well-represented at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games on Feb. 2 in Orlando.

Four 49ers were selected to participate in the games, with four others landing as alternates. The players going to the games are all regular participants when the 49ers aren’t in the Super Bowl.

Defensive end Nick Bosa is going for the fifth time in his career and for the fourth year in a row. Bosa this season battled through an injury and still posted 9.0 sacks in 13 games. He also ranked fifth in total pressures according to Pro Football Focus.

Tight end George Kittle got his sixth Pro Bowl nod and his fourth consecutive. Kittle had his fourth 1,000-yard season, putting him in a rare group with Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. That group of five players are the only TEs in NFL history with four-plus 1,000-yard seasons.

Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is a Pro Bowler for the ninth-straight time, and linebacker Fred Warner got his third consecutive, fourth overall, nod.

Juszczyk remains the most versatile, dominant fullback in the NFL even as more teams start to deploy fullbacks. Warner played through a broken bone in his ankle for most of the year and still maintained his status as one of the best off-ball linebackers in the sport. It wasn’t his best year, but he’s good enough that he’ll earn the benefit of the doubt in a rough season.

The alternates for San Francisco include defensive end Leonard Floyd, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, quarterback Brock Purdy and left tackle Trent Williams.

It’s unlikely we’ll see Williams play even if he does get selected since he’s battling an ankle injury that landed him on IR. Purdy is also dealing with an elbow injury he suffered in Week 17 that will likely keep him out for the season finale in Arizona.

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Sydney Warner shares hilarious game prediction for husband, 49ers LB Fred Warner, vs. Bears

Sydney Warner shared her Chicago Bears game prediction for her husband, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, on their podcast, “Warner House.”

Ahead of the San Francisco 49ers‘ Week 14 date against the Chicago Bears, fans got the latest installment of the “Warner House” featuring San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner and his wife, Sydney.

In addition to a full recap of the 49ers’ snow game at Buffalo, fans were also treated to the Warners’ Christmas plans.

Sydney also shared a hilarious prediction for what to expect from Fred Warner in the 49ers’ Sunday date against the Bears.

“I predict that you are going to have one pick and you’re going to punch the ball out once. And then, you might like tip another pick, but then somebody else will catch it. How does that sound? I didn’t want to get too overzealous,” Sydney Warner said.

The zaniness of Sydney’s prediction earned a belly laugh from Fred.

With San Francisco currently stuck in a three-game losing streak, Fred joked that maybe it was the right time for a crazy prediction.

“Too overzealous? Honey, this is the time to go nuts. What do we have to lose here? So, redo the whole thing. Go crazy,” Fred Warner said.

Sydney Warner couldn’t be talked into more than two picks and a forced fumble, though.

Fred then asked for her total tackles prediction.

“You better get at least seven or you’re in trouble. Seven or you’re in trouble,” Sydney Warner said.

Let’s hope for Fred’s sake that he can deliver a big game against the Bears to stay out of Sydney’s doghouse.

In the meantime, San Francisco fans would happily sign up for any one of those three turnover predictions coming true against Chicago.

Fred Warner currently has a team-leading 88 total tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and one sack on the season. Warner had a 45-yard pick-six in the 49ers’ 30-13 win over the New England Patriots in Week 4.

Kickoff against Chicago is set for 1:25 p.m. PT with the game set to be televised on Fox.

5 49ers among top vote getters in Pro Bowl fan voting

Five 49ers found their way among the top four Pro Bowl fan vote recipients within their respective positions.

Five San Francisco 49ers found their way among the top Pro Bowl fan voting recipients in Monday’s current top 10 announcement.

In fact, these five 49ers were all inside the top four fan vote recipients within their respective positions, including a pair of San Francisco stalwarts that are the current leading vote-getters.

George Kittle is No. 1 among tight ends and Kyle Juszczyk is No. 1 among fullbacks in the current Pro Bowl fan voting.

San Francisco’s Fred Warner is No. 3 in Pro Bowl fan votes among inside linebackers, while defensive end Nick Bosa and offensive tackle Trent Williams each check in with the fourth-most fan votes at their respective positions.

Kittle has hauled in 50 receptions for 649 receiving yards and eight scores thus far this season. Kittle’s eight touchdown grabs are tops in the NFL among tight ends and his 649 receiving yards rank third in the NFL among tight ends.

Warner leads the San Francisco defense with 88 total tackles in 2024. The 6-foot-3, 230 pound linebacker has also tallied six passes defended, four forced fumbles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and one sack.

Bosa leads the 49ers with 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks. The 6-foot-4, 266 pound defensive end has also accumulated 36 total tackles, one forced fumble, one pass defended and one interception.

Juszczyk and Williams have helped lead and anchor a San Francisco offense that ranks seventh in the NFL in total offense at 372.4 yards per game. The 49ers and seventh in rushing offense (139.6 rushing yards per game) rank ninth in passing offense (232.8 passing yards per game).

San Francisco (5-7) returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 8 with a 1:25 p.m. PT kickoff time versus the Chicago Bears.

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Fred Warner returns vs Bills despite cramps

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner exited with cramps, but then later returned in the first half vs. the Buffalo Bills.

Standout linebacker Fred Warner exited the San Francisco 49ers’ Sunday Night Football contest at the Buffalo Bills during the first half.

Per the 49ers, Warner was listed as questionable to return with cramps and taken into San Francisco’s locker room for further examination.

In a positive update, Warner returned to the field for San Francisco shortly thereafter.

Warner has been a warrior for the 49ers this season. Earlier this week, Warner revealed that he has been dealing with a fractured bone in his ankle since San Francisco’s Sept. 29 win against the New England Patriots.

The 49ers certainly need Warner on the field to try to curtail the Bills’ rushing attack. At halftime on Sunday night, Buffalo leads San Francisco, 21-3. Bills running back James Cook had nine carries for 101 rushing yards in the first half and Buffalo registered 142 rushing yards.

Entering this Week 13 contest, Warner had tallied 84 tackles, four forced fumbles and one sack.

San Francisco came into Sunday night minus defensive end Nick Bosa, defensive lineman Jordan Elliott, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and linebacker Dre Greenlaw.

Star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey also exited in the first half against the Bills with a knee injury and was listed as questionable to return.

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49ers LB Fred Warner playing through fractured ankle

This helps explain why Fred Warner’s production has taken a dive.

Injuries started defining the San Francisco 49ers season during training camp when they were so banged up they were forced to cancel joint practices with the New Orleans Saints.

It continued into the regular season where a slew of ailments have cost games for players like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa, Trent Williams, Brock Purdy and Deebo Samuel. It turns out linebacker Fred Warner is also dealing with a pretty significant injury.

Warner told reporters after Wednesday’s practice that he sustained an ankle fracture in Week 4 against the New England Patriots. He’s been receiving pain-killing injections before each game since in order to play.

This helps explain some of the drop off in production for the 49ers All-Pro middle linebacker. Pro Football Focus grades reflect how much the injury has hampered Warner.

His overall grades through the first were 92.6, 95.8, 71.5 and 96.6 – those are elite numbers.

Warner’s highest overall grade, and his only game above 70.0, in seven games since the injury is 72.8, and that came in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys. His 44.7 grade last week vs. the Green Bay Packers was his worst mark since Week 12 of the 2021 season.

It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Warner winds up sitting out if/when the 49ers are eliminated from playoff contention.

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49ers injury report: Starting CB questionable vs. Seahawks

Here’s the 49ers’ Week 6 injury report:

The San Francisco 49ers have a crowded injury report for their Week 6 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.

A truncated week of preparation exacerbates any potential injury issues since there’s less time for a player to recover during the week. That may be why veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward is listed as questionable with a knee injury.

Ward suffered a knee bruise during the team’s Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He was projected as a non-participant in Monday’s practice, then was limited in two walkthroughs Tuesday and Wednesday.

If Ward can’t go, we’ll likely see Isaac Yiadom start at the outside cornerback spot with rookie Renardo Green lining up in the slot as the nickel corner.

Perhaps the most important part of the 49ers injury report is who isn’t listed. Tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner and safety Ji’Ayir Brown all participated in full Wednesday and are good to suit up Thursday night.

Here’s the 49ers’ full Week 6 injury report:

Out

DT Jordan Elliott (knee)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf)
S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist)
K Jake Moody (right ankle)

Flannigan-Fowles, Moody and Hufanga were all expected to miss the game. Elliott has been dealing with a knee injury for a couple weeks now. His absence may be due to the short week.

Questionable

WR Chris Conley (oblique)
CB Charvarius Ward (knee)

Conley was on the same practice schedule as Ward after missing Week 5 with his oblique injury. He didn’t participate Monday, then was limited Tuesday and Wednesday.