The San Francisco 49ers didn't exactly want linebacker Dre Greenlaw to leave via free agency an offseason ago, attempting an 11th-hour move to convince him not to join the Denver Broncos.
But Greenlaw ultimately left, signing a multi-year deal there and leaving the Niners with relatively few proven options on their depth chart behind Warner. And San Francisco was forced to cycle through several backers because of injury attrition, including Warner's brutal ankle injury in the middle of the year.
Greenlaw, too, suffered plenty of injury issues during his first year in Denver, appearing in just eight games over the course of 2025.
And that prompted the Broncos to part ways with the veteran, opening up the door to a possible reunion in the Bay Area.
Turns out, that possibility is coming true.
49ers are bringing back fan-favorite Dre Greenlaw (and making Fred Warner happy)
According to a Thursday report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the 49ers are signing Greenlaw to a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million:
Reunion: The #49ers are signing back one of their former stars, agreeing to terms with LB Dre Greenlaw, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2026
The former SF draft pick spent last season with the #Broncos and now returns on a 1-year, $7.5M deal. pic.twitter.com/bCfAipbWPl
Read more: 49ers free agency tracker 2026: Signings, departures, news and more
Greenlaw and Warner patrolled the second level of the Niners defense from 2019 through 2024, providing plenty of worthy memories and moments. And it was hard for both Warner and the rest of the fanbase to watch Greenlaw seek out newer pastures.
While San Francisco is fully aware of the linebacker's lengthy injury history, pairing him back with Warner helps solve plenty of issues that plagued the defense the previous two years.
It'll be interesting to see the guarantees associated with Greenlaw's contract in light of his injury history, but one should automatically assume he's going to partnering back up with Warner again right out of the gate.
Warner will unquestionably happy. So should the bulk of the 49ers fanbase.