San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is disappointed to see his teammate and close friend, Dre Greenlaw, leave in free agency. The two have been together for six seasons, with Greenlaw joining the 49ers as a fifth-round pick in 2019, a year after Warner was drafted in the third round.
Greenlaw appeared in just two games last season after returning from an Achilles injury. The 49ers had hoped to bring him back, but a roster overhaul and unwillingness to overspend allowed the Denver Broncos to swoop in and sign the veteran linebacker.
"My brother!!" Warner wrote via Instagram (h/t Andy Lindquist of NBC Sports Bay Area). "One of the baddest boys to ever touch that green grass. We had moments that'll last a lifetime and they always remember how we rocked out everytime!! Ain't no 5-4 without 5-7. Go be legendary brudda, love always."
Warner had campaigned for Greenlaw's return, and it was reported that returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh also hoped to keep the fan-favorite linebacker.
"That's the guy, I feel like, that has allowed me to ascend in this league," Warner said of Greenlaw last month. "... because of his ascension and the type of player that he is, how unselfish of a player that he is, how ferocious of a human being in a player that he is. And so, people, they look at me, but you can't see me without him, so I hope we get him back."
Greenlaw isn't the only notable departure. The 49ers have also parted ways with safety Talanoa Hufanga, who joins Greenlaw in Denver, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, cornerback Charvarius Ward, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and several others.
San Francisco selected Greenlaw (6-0, 230) out of Arkansas in the fifth round (No. 148 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has recorded 455 tackles (18 for a loss), nine quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, 14 passes defensed, three interceptions, two touchdowns, and two forced fumbles in 64 games (56 starts) over his six NFL seasons, per Pro Football Reference.