Dre Greenlaw is back home, and honestly, the 49ers couldn’t be happier about it. The veteran linebacker spent the first six seasons of his NFL career in San Francisco before heading to the Denver Broncos last offseason in free agency. That experiment didn’t last long, he played just one season with Denver before getting released this spring. Now, at 28 years old, Greenlaw has signed a one-year deal worth $7.5 million to rejoin the 49ers, and he’s definitely fired up about it.

What’s really got him hyped? Reuniting with his “partner in crime”, Fred Warner. These two have an undeniable chemistry that goes beyond your typical linebacker duo. During an appearance on former NFL left tackle Terron Armstead’s “The Set” podcast, Greenlaw opened up about what makes his connection with Warner so special.

“Fred came in the year before me, but there’s just a certain feeling we got”, Greenlaw explained. “When we look across that field and we see each other, you dang right it’s for each other”. He continued, describing the unspoken trust between them: “It’s like you’re not going to let me down, I’m not going to let you down”.

The bond between these two is something deeper than just knowing your teammate’s name. Greenlaw emphasized how Warner knows exactly what he brings to the field. “I just know he knows I’m going to put it all on the line and he’s going to do the same”, he said. “It’s like a partner in crime, it’s all going to work out how it’s supposed to, but I’m thankful for it all. I’m turnt for it”.

Greenlaw’s time with the Broncos was brief but productive. Despite playing in only eight games (seven starts), he racked up 43 combined tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, two passes defensed, and one sack. However, that single season didn’t pan out the way either side had hoped. The linebacker originally signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract with Denver, but circumstances changed quickly.

Now, two years removed from the devastating torn Achilles injury he suffered in Super Bowl LVIII, Greenlaw is healthy and ready to reclaim his spot as one of the NFL’s elite linebackers. His recovery has been solid, and returning to the 49ers organization, where he established himself as a defensive force, gives him the perfect opportunity to prove he’s back to form.

The 49ers’ linebacker group just got a whole lot stronger with Greenlaw back in the fold. With Warner leading the charge and Greenlaw bringing that same intensity and commitment, San Francisco’s defense has some serious firepower in the middle of the field heading into the new season.