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Dre Greenlaw: Leaving 49ers for Broncos 'wasn't easy'

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By David Bonilla | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 8:11 PM ET

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw hoped to remain in the Bay Area with the team that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The San Francisco 49ers wanted him back as well, but opted to let the early stages of free agency play out before making a move.

That hesitation proved costly. The Denver Broncos acted quickly, aggressively pursuing the 49ers' fan-favorite linebacker. Greenlaw and Denver swiftly reached an agreement, prompting head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch to make a last-ditch trip to Greenlaw's Texas home in an attempt to convince him to stay.

"We weren't done with Dre," Lynch said in March, "but we had to go through the process, and other teams were aggressive in their pursuit of him, and we were kind of forced to be somewhat reactive. And then, when the market was set, we wanted to go have a conversation with our guy, who we have a lot of respect and love for."

The 49ers' late push ultimately fell short, and Greenlaw signed with the Broncos, officially starting a new chapter in his NFL career.

This week, Greenlaw reflected on the decision and acknowledged it was a tough one to make. In the end, the Broncos' commitment won out.

"It wasn't easy, of course, but they (the Broncos) just wanted me," Greenlaw told reporters. "Throughout the whole time I was talking to [Broncos head coach] Sean [Payton], there was no ifs, ands, buts, maybes, this or that. It was like 'Man, we want you to be here.'"

Dre Greenlaw says that back in March, the Broncos and Sean Payton truly made him feel wanted. "Throughout the whole time I was talking to Sean, it was never no if, ands, buts, maybe this or that. It was like, 'Man, we want you to be here.' And, I mean, I was a foster kid growing… pic.twitter.com/kOe6DhQHkx— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) July 29, 2025

The 49ers likely believed Greenlaw's market value would be limited due to his injury history, which included missing time in 2024. Instead, Denver's strong and immediate interest made all the difference.

"I mean, I was a foster kid growing up, so it's not a lot of times people just wanted me," Greenlaw shared. "It just made me feel special. It made me feel like this is the place where I needed to be."

Meanwhile, San Francisco is turning the page and keeping close tabs on one of the more intriguing training camp battles. Dee Winters, rookie Nick Martin, and potentially others are competing for the right to start alongside All-Pro Fred Warner at the weak-side linebacker spot.