The 49ers got Dre Greenlaw back, and with him comes a familiar edge that San Francisco clearly missed.
Greenlaw has re-signed with the team on a one-year, $7.5 million deal after his short run with the Denver Broncos, returning to the place where he was a major piece of the 49ers’ 2022 and 2023 defenses. In those seasons, he piled up more than 240 tackles, and his fit in San Francisco never really seemed in doubt. What changed was the path he took to get there.
A report from NFL Network four months ago pointed to the contrast between the two coaching environments as part of why Greenlaw left Denver. Sean Payton’s practices stretched to three hours, while Kyle Shanahan’s approach is built around keeping players fresh. That difference mattered, but it was only part of the story.
Greenlaw’s lone season with the Broncos turned into a grind. In a New York Times report, the 29-year-old linebacker spoke openly about how much he struggled physically and mentally during that stretch. He dealt with a severe quadriceps strain early in the offseason, then battled a chain of issues that included more injuries, weight gain, scheme adjustments and problems getting on the field.
The altitude in Denver wore on him too, and Greenlaw didn’t hide how miserable it made him. “F-ing altitude.
My mouth’s dry, my nose is dry, I can’t sleep. … I’m fighting demons left and right.”
That season got so rough that Greenlaw began to question whether he wanted to keep playing at all. Now, back in the Bay Area, he’s treating the return as a reset.
His presence has already shown up in camp. Deommodore Lenoir said the 49ers have gotten their “bully” back on defense, a pointed way of describing what Greenlaw brings when he’s healthy and comfortable. With Greenlaw back next to Fred Warner, San Francisco is trying to restore the aggressive, physical identity that once powered its best defensive groups.
In Other News...
49ers Fans Just Got A Tough Update On A Familiar Voice
Greg Papa has been one of the more familiar voices in Bay Area sports for years, and 49ers fans have long heard him across different corners of the local scene. The longtime broadcaster, known for his play-by-play work with multiple Bay Area professional teams, is now set to be off the air calling games in 2026, a notable shift for a personality so closely tied to the regions sports chatter.
Papas absence comes amid a stretch of change around his career and his health, which has kept him out of the usual public rhythm for a while. For listeners who have associated him with game days and midday radio alike, the bigger question now is what this next chapter looks like, and how much of that familiar presence will return in any form. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Camp Just Took Another Hit As Depth Concerns Grow
The injuries have started to pile up quickly enough in Santa Clara that the 49ers are already leaning deeper into the roster than they would prefer this early in camp. Several wide receivers have been sidelined, and the club has had to balance those absences with rest days for key veterans like Nick Bosa as it tries to get through practice while also keeping an eye on the 2026 preseason schedule.
One of the more notable setbacks has come on the offensive side, where Kyle Juszczyk has been dealing with a hand issue at a time when San Francisco can least afford to lose another dependable piece. The roster churn has already pushed the front office to add help in the form of KhaDarel Hodge and Ogbo Okoronkwo, a reminder that camp depth is being tested before the real work of the season even begins. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Pass Rush Plan
Maxx Crosbys latest comments seemed to shut down any lingering fantasy of a Bay Area reunion, and the 49ers responded in a way that said plenty about where their pass rush stands. Rather than waiting around on a big swing, San Francisco has leaned into the group it already has, with Nick Bosa still the headliner and Mykel Williams part of a young defensive core expected to play real snaps this season.
The move suggests the 49ers are content to keep building around their internal options and a veteran depth piece, rather than chase a high-profile outside addition. For a defense that has long been defined by pressure up front, the message is pretty clear: the plan is to develop what is in-house and trust that the rotation can hold up, even if the bigger-name pursuit is off the table. [Read more 🡒]