The San Francisco 49ers suffered a devastating blow with the loss of All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, who is out for the remainder of the 2025 season due to an ankle injury. Warner's absence leaves a massive void on defense, but it also opens the door for younger players to step up as the team enters a pivotal stretch of the year.
One of those players is Tatum Bethune, who will start in place of Warner when the 49ers face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7.
"Fred, he's the leader of the team—not just the defense," Bethune said. "When he goes down, that's a huge blow to every single one of us. We all are professionals, and we've got to prepare like we're the starters, so I just want to be able to go in and make sure there's no drop-off when Fred comes off the field. That's my goal right now."
To help inspire his team, head coach Kyle Shanahan turned to film study—not only from last week's game, but from Warner's NFL debut back in 2018 against the Minnesota Vikings.
"I showed all his clips from that game, and it wasn't what you would think," Shanahan said. "He had no dreads. He was wearing number 48. [He] had no swag. It did not look like totally Fred Warner. And it was right after I showed them [the film from last week's game against the Buccaneers], and I go, 'Guys, you know, I'd be dead wrong, but if I just watched this game versus Tampa and Fred's first game versus Minnesota, I'm probably going with you guys over Fred.'
"Now, that would have been a mistake. We all know Fred is going to be a Hall of Famer, and how good he is, but you guys should know how good you guys can be, too. And Fred got his opportunity early. We had a first-round pick (Reuben Foster) who lost his job, one injury at first, and then two, just messing up, and we had to get him off the team. And that's how Fred got his opportunity."
Warner seized the moment, worked relentlessly, and became one of the NFL's best and most respected defensive players.
"Now, a lot of you guys are getting yours now, but you're starting where Fred did," Shanahan continued. "What are you guys going to do with it? And Fred did that because of how he worked each day, and what he became, and how great he is. And all those guys have that opportunity, too. But it doesn't just happen. You've got to put the work in."
Shanahan's message is clear: while losing Warner is a significant setback, the 49ers still have the talent and motivation to keep their season on track. That begins on Sunday night against the Falcons at Levi's Stadium.
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