Dre Greenlaw’s first year in Denver came with more than just a change of scenery - it came with a crash course in a whole new football philosophy.
After six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers under Kyle Shanahan, Greenlaw made the leap to the Broncos last offseason, joining Sean Payton’s squad in free agency. And while the results on the field were promising - Denver pushed all the way to the AFC Championship Game - the path to that success looked very different than what Greenlaw was used to.
Speaking to reporters the day after the Broncos’ season ended in a hard-fought loss to the New England Patriots, Greenlaw offered some candid insight into the adjustment he faced transitioning from Shanahan’s system to Payton’s.
“They’re just two different personality coaches,” Greenlaw said. “Sean is old school. You’re gonna do six days, only one day off, and he’s got his way of doing things.”
And when Greenlaw says “old school,” he means it. We're talking full-length practices - three hours on Wednesday, three hours on Friday - the kind of grind that harkens back to a different era of NFL preparation.
In contrast, Shanahan’s approach in San Francisco prioritized keeping players fresh. Lighter practice loads, more rest, and a focus on recovery were hallmarks of Shanahan’s player-first philosophy.
“Shanahan - he’s the complete opposite,” Greenlaw explained. “He wants you fresh. It’s just two completely different mindsets, and they both have their way of doing things - and it’s for good reasons too.”
Greenlaw isn’t throwing shade here - he’s offering a veteran’s perspective on two successful but distinct coaching styles. And he’s in a unique position to do so, having spent his formative NFL years under Shanahan before stepping into a leadership role in Payton’s defense.
His 2025 campaign in Denver was a comeback story in itself. After being limited to just two games in 2024 due to an Achilles injury suffered during Super Bowl LVIII, Greenlaw returned to start seven games for the Broncos this season. He racked up 43 combined tackles in the regular season and added 10 more across two playoff games, showing flashes of the sideline-to-sideline speed and physicality that made him a key piece of San Francisco’s defense.
And while the Broncos fell just short of a Super Bowl berth, there’s no denying the progress they made under Payton’s leadership. Greenlaw’s former team, the 49ers, also had a strong season, advancing to the NFC Divisional Round. Two organizations, two different coaching styles - and both found success.
For Greenlaw, it’s been a year of adaptation, recovery, and growth. And if this season is any indication, he’s still got plenty of impact left to make - no matter the playbook language or practice schedule.