Foster is the fifth 49ers rookie to win the award, according to the Sacramento Bee. The previous four were Andre Carter, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, and Chris Borland.
"When we drafted him, I thought if he could stay healthy, he'd be the Rookie of the Year," 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said on Thursday. "No question the defense is built for linebackers to run and hit and get tackles, so for him to gobble them up the way he has, it's not a surprise.
"He's a very talented and instinctual player. He's very explosive, so the sky's the limit. He hasn't even scratched the surface too. If he continues going the way he has, it's only going to get better."
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joined KNBR on Friday morning and discussed his rookie linebacker earning the NFL honor.
"I was happy for Reuben," Shanahan said on the "Murph & Mac" show. "He's been battling an injury all year, especially since that first game. Came in with the shoulder injury, so he missed OTAs, and we got him back in training camp. Then he got hurt the first game against Carolina. When he came back, he got reinjured. So it's been lingering for him all year. I also know he's not fully healthy right now. But what has been good is he's been able to stay out there for three full games.
"When Reuben is out there, I think everyone can see he is a very good player but by no means has he fully arrived. He's still got a long way to go, still can get a lot better. I've got very high expectations for Reuben and I'm glad he got the recognition this week, which I think he deserved, but I also plan on Reuben continuing to get better. I hope he'll be better this week versus Chicago than he was last week and I hope we keep continuing that throughout the year."
Shanahan also discussed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's preparation to start on Sunday against the Chicago Bears and the 49ers having fun during their final five games of the season.
You can listen to the entire interview with Shanahan below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Kyle Shanahan explains Brock Purdy's remarkable success in Seattle
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy earned his first career road start in 2022 with a 21-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Since then, he has played three additional games in one of the loudest and most challenging environments in the NFL — and won all... -
Kyle Shanahan turns Seahawks trash talk into motivation for 49ers playoff push
A trip to the NFC Championship Game should be motivation enough for the San Francisco 49ers as they prepare for Saturday night's Divisional Round playoff matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. But just in case, head coach Kyle Shanahan made sure his team had a little extra fuel... -
49ers Notebook: Veterans praise rookie performance in 2025; Shanahan speaks on Renardo Green scolding; Trent Williams, others reflect on 2025
The mood could have been worse among San Francisco 49ers players Saturday night following their 41-6 season-ending drubbing at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. But it wasn't, due in part to the reflections that were made on what the team accomplished in 2025 and what lies... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan sounds off on Ricky Pearsall injury concerns
There was significant excitement surrounding Ricky Pearsall's potential entering the season. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver showed encouraging chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy, leading many to believe Pearsall could emerge as a breakout performer in 2025. That...