It’s been over two years, but San Francisco 49ers fans can’t help but think about the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in early 2024. Many fans will forever wonder how that game would have turned out if linebacker Dre Greenlaw hadn’t blown out his Achilles on the sideline, and Niners safety Ji’Ayir Brown made it clear how he thinks the game would have gone.
In a recent podcast appearance, Brown said, "It drained us. I think if Dre Greenlaw played that game, they never pass the 50-yard line. Honestly."
Maybe that’s a little overly optimistic, but it’s not unreasonable to think if Greenlaw hadn’t gone down in the game, he could have made one big hit, sack, or interception that could have entirely changed the complexion of the game.
Brown echoed the sentiment shared by Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who wasn't even the Niners defensive coordinator for that Super Bowl squad but was still cheering for his former team and was hoping it'd win.
Ryans also thinks the Niners would have won that game if Greenlaw didn't get hurt.
49ers fans know the defense has an extra layer of tenacity whenever Greenlaw is out there. He plays with such an edge, and it can get him in trouble at times in the form of an unnecessary roughness penalty, or getting in the face of Big Dom on the sideline. So when that presence is missing, it can impact the rest of the defense.
Thankfully, the Niners are getting that presence back next season. San Francisco brought Greenlaw back into the fold after one tough year with the Denver Broncos, and it will be amazing to see him reunited with Fred Warner at linebacker.Â
Obviously, the hope is Greenlaw will remain healthy after he only played in eight games last season. While his tenacity is a benefit when he’s on the field, it also makes him vulnerable to injury, so maybe the 49ers can try to calibrate that toughness by resting him more or making sure he goes hard without injuring himself too badly.
As for Brown, he played in that Super Bowl and actually had a pretty solid game as he recorded an interception. He regressed pretty badly in 2024 and had a bit of an uneven year in 2025.
Brown got a bit of a vote of confidence from the Niners since they did not select a safety in the 2026 NFL Draft, even though that’s definitely a position that can be upgraded. He’s still going to have to earn a starting role, but if the season started tomorrow, he’d certainly be the favorite to start alongside Malik Mustapha.
Maybe Greenlaw and Brown can both have big seasons. It will be interesting to see how the defense looks under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, so with Greenlaw back in the fold, maybe the Niners can get back to the Super Bowl and win it this time with a healthy Greenlaw in tow.Â
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