How Fred Warner is helping Tatum Bethune develop into leader of 49ers’ defense

SANTA CLARA — Tatum Bethune quickly is developing into a leader for the 49ers defense, racking up 16 tackles — 8 solo — in San Francisco’s Week 9 win over the New York Giants. Bethune, now the “quarterback of the defense” for Fred Warner, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury, has the All-Pro as a valuable resource. “I usually text Fred after the games to see his thoughts on everything,” Bethune said on Wednesday. “But most of the time when I talk to him, is whenever he’s in the building for his therapy. After that, I just let him focus on himself and get better.”  Bethune was a seventh-round pick (No. 251) of the 2024 NFL Draft who appeared in 11 games as a rookie, one as a starter. The majority of the Florida State product’s experience, before Week 5, had been on special teams. “It’s still coming along,” Bethune said of his transition to starting middle linebacker. “I’m just trying to be there for the plays, for how they work, for me coming in. It’s something new, so that [comfort] level is still rising up. As you can see...