The San Francisco 49ers defense had a lot to prove after Week 8's horrendous loss to the Houston Texans.
A weak, insipid performance was highlighted (or should that be lowlighted) by several defensive busts, as Texans quarterback CJ Stroud was able to produce his best performance of the season. Everything from the pass-rush, to coverage, to tackling let the Niners down.
Perhaps no one exemplified that more than linebacker Tatum Bethune.
Regular readers of Niner Noise will know I'm an unabashed Bethune enjoyer. I tipped him to make the roster at the end of the 2024 season, and I've been pretty impressed with him any time he's seen the field since.
Not so much against Houston.
He had some tackling issues, but perhaps his most egregious mistake was biting on a play-action to chase Stroud, allowing Texans running back Woody Marks to grab a 50-yard gain. That was one of several field-flipping plays San Francisco allowed on defense, and it contributed to the overall gloom going into Sunday's game with the New York Giants.
Fortunately, Bethune responded with his best performance yet.
Playing again in relief of the injured All-Pro, Fred Warner, Bethune logged an astonishing 16 tackles and formed an effective partnership with fellow youngster Dee Winters in the 49ers' front seven.
That culminated in some big wins, particularly against the run and short passes, allowing San Francisco's beleaguered pass-rush a better chance to tee off in obvious passing situations.
That led to a better day all-round, and Bethune gained the praise of head coach Kyle Shanahan, too.
Kyle Shanahan was impressed with Tatum Bethune’s game today:
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 2, 2025
“He knows how to play the position. He has a real knack for playing football in terms of in the box and making tackles. I think he’s getting better and better in the pass game. He had some big hits today. I know he had… pic.twitter.com/kwJAtpFRXy
Shanahan's words speak to the truth about Bethune. He isn't Warner. No one is, frankly. Warner likely has a bust waiting for him in Canton, and may have a strong case for being the best 49ers linebacker of all time, along with the likes of Patrick Willis.
Bethune doesn't have his ability to cover sideline-to-sideline, isn't as fast or as impactful a tackler, and is too young to be the leader of the same type Warner is. None of these things are criticisms, just facts of life in the NFL. Losing a player of Warner's calibre can be season-derailing.
It's a credit to Bethune that it hasn't been. Bethune has quietly assumed leadership of the defense's younger players (a number that seems to increase every week), and he's led the NFL in tackles since he took over the starting role. What he lacks in athleticism -- something that's been a knock on Bethune since he was drafted -- he makes up for in something coaches can't teach: instincts, and both he and Winters put them on full display during Sunday's game.
Tackles alone aren't going to make anyone forget Warner is missing, and a huge test lies ahead for Bethune with the likes of Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay on the docket, who will surely test his deficiencies. But the backup linebacker has done a great job of stabilising the defense, and Sunday's performance was a great example of that.
If the Niners can mitigate their shorthanded defense, Bethune may find himself playing in a playoff game before too long.
Quite a journey, for the former seventh-round pick.