The San Francisco 49ers defense is allowing 4.0 rushing yards per attempt this season, which is tied for 15th in the NFL. That's only slightly better than the 4.3 rushing yards per attempt the defense allowed last season—not the improvement the team hoped for in 2026.
San Francisco owns a 57.4 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranks 20th in the NFL. That's an improvement over the unit's last-ranked 39.8 run-defense grade in 2025, including the playoffs, but there's still plenty of room for improvement.
Fred Warner isn't worried, though. While the 49ers' run defense has allowed more yards than the team would prefer, the All-Pro linebacker believes the unit will improve as the season progresses.
"I think with the run game right now, you've got to remember, it's a new system, new techniques, schemes are being put into place," Warner explained. "It's a new group, guys kind of meshing together, trying to trying to figure out where does everybody fit?
"I think the thing that has helped a ton is obviously the style of play, but it's something that will continue to get better as we go on. I'm not sitting here saying that I'm complacent with it at all. Selfishly, I want us to be dominant in all areas, especially in the run game. But the number one thing that offenses want to do is create explosives. They want to get the run game going to get guys biting up to ultimately take shots down the field.
"So, everything has got to be complementary. It's something that we're looking at, and we're looking to continue to get better in all areas."
Warner believes it will take some time for the 49ers defense to reach its full potential within the system that new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has installed. If that happens, San Francisco should continue to see improvement across the board as the season progresses.
We'll have to wait and see how the numbers look with a larger sample size. The 49ers have played only two games so far, leaving plenty of time for the defense to develop.
"I said all along, we're far from a finished product," Warner said. "We're obviously going to continue to find what that looks like. But there's a constant analyzing things that we can be better at, and a constant growth mindset throughout the group of continuing to get better every single week.
"Yeah, you want to be able to play free, play fast, play violent, but you've got to be technically sound as well. So that's something that we'll continue to preach and work on every single day."
If Warner is right, the 49ers defense should look more comfortable and consistent as the season progresses—assuming it can overcome the early injuries. For now, the unit's early numbers leave room for improvement, but there is still plenty of time for Morris' system to take shape.
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