San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is devastated over what happened to fellow linebacker Dre Greenlaw during the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.
During the second quarter, Greenlaw was getting set to run back on to the field to play defense when he collapsed near the sideline. It was a torn Achilles, one of the worst injuries an athlete can suffer.
Afterward, Warner admitted to getting emotional.
“I’m sick to my stomach,” Warner told reporters after the game, via Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. “I’m still sick. I see him at halftime, and I’m crying because I was just so hurt for him and obviously wanting to win this for him. Sickening.”
Greenlaw was making quite an impact early on, as he was in on numerous big defensive plays by San Francisco over the first quarter and change.
The loss of Greenlaw definitely hurt, both from a physical and an emotional standpoint.
“I saw him at halftime, saw him, obviously, towards the end of the game when he was out there on the sideline. Horrible,” added Warner.”
Greenlaw racked up 120 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four passes defended during the regular season.
The 26-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Arkansas, was selected by the Niners in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He immediately was inserted into the starting lineup during his rookie campaign and registered 92 tackles, sack and an interception.
However, Greenlaw didn’t really break out until 2022, when he rattled off 127 tackles, a pick, a couple of forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown.
We’ll see how long it takes Greenlaw to recover, but Warner and Co. may have to prepare for life without him in 2024.
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