A fifth-round steal out of Arkansas whose physical, instinctive linebacker play made him half of one of the NFL's best duos before a freak Achilles injury.
Dre Greenlaw spent six seasons as Fred Warner's running mate in San Francisco, forming one of the league's most respected linebacker tandems before a bizarre Achilles tear in the Super Bowl and a rocky one-year detour derailed his momentum. He is now working to reestablish himself after returning from that injury.
Path to the league
Greenlaw started 39 of 42 games over four seasons at Arkansas, finishing with 299 tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles. The 49ers drafted him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Greenlaw spent his first six NFL seasons in San Francisco, developing into one half of the league's top linebacker duo alongside Fred Warner. His tenure was marked by a serious setback when he tore his Achilles tendon while running onto the field in Super Bowl LVIII.
2025 season recap
Greenlaw signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Denver Broncos in 2025 but had a difficult debut season there, missing the first six games with a quad injury, sitting out a game due to suspension, and later dealing with a hamstring issue. He appeared in eight games, recording 43 tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble, before Denver released him as a post-June 1 cut.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dre Greenlaw
- Pro Football Reference: Dre Greenlaw
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
8 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 49ers | 6 | 49 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | broncos | 8 | 43 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | 49ers | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 49ers | 15 | 120 | 75 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2022 | 49ers | 15 | 127 | 82 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2021 | 49ers | 3 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 49ers | 13 | 86 | 61 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 49ers | 16 | 92 | 64 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Arkansas
- Hometown
- Fayetteville, AR, USA
- Age
- 29
- Status
- news
Latest news about Dre Greenlaw
All news →49ers' Deebo Samuel Out at Least a Couple of Games With Hamstring Injury
Update: San Francisco ruled out Mike Evans, Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and three defensive players for Sunday at Atlanta, and may play with fewer than 48 healthy players. Christian Kirk returns.
AI Predicts Every Week 6 Game of the 2026 NFL Season
After an 8-of-15 Week 5 in which the coin-flip picks went 1 for 6, the model picks all 14 Week 6 games, from Seahawks-Broncos on Thursday to Commanders-49ers on Monday night, with the Chiefs the widest lean.
49ers' Dre Greenlaw Suspended One Game for Head-Butting a Helmetless Ernest Jones IV
Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter at Seattle after a late hit on Sam Darnold and an exchange with Jones, his third career ejection. The league also fined him $11,941 for conduct the week before.
Week 3 Injuries: Justin Jefferson, Baker Mayfield and De'Von Achane Among Players Hurt Sunday
Update: Mayfield is out at least three weeks with a dislocated thumb, Achane tore his ACL and is on injured reserve, Jefferson has an ankle sprain and could play, and the 49ers' three injured starters avoided long-term damage.
49ers Beat Cardinals 36-30 in Week 3
San Francisco 49ers 36, Arizona Cardinals 30 at Levi's Stadium. Brock Purdy went 15 of 27 for 297 yards with 4 touchdowns.
