After a year away, Dre Greenlaw is heading back to the Bay. The San Francisco 49ers announced they’ve signed the 28-year-old linebacker to a one-year deal, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in 2019. It’s a move that could help shore up the defense as the team heads into the next phase of their roster building.

Greenlaw spent seven seasons with the 49ers from 2019 to 2024 before spending the 2025 season with the Denver Broncos. Over his time in San Francisco, he became a reliable defensive presence, appearing in 72 games with 63 starts. During that stretch, he racked up 490 tackles, 16 passes defensed, 4.5 sacks, and four interceptions, including one he took back for a touchdown. In the postseason, where the 49ers made multiple deep runs, Greenlaw was a consistent contributor with 82 tackles across 14 playoff games.

His 2025 stint in Denver was solid but brief. The Arkansas native appeared in eight regular season games, recording 43 tackles, two passes defensed, and a sack. He also played in two playoff contests, adding 10 more tackles to his resume. While his time with the Broncos showed he could still be effective, it seems the 49ers decided they wanted him back in the fold.

Greenlaw’s college resume is equally impressive. At the University of Arkansas, he was a force for the Razorbacks from 2015 to 2018, appearing in 42 games with 39 starts. The Fayetteville native recorded 299 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles during his four-year career. That production helped get him drafted in the fifth round by San Francisco.

What makes this signing interesting is the timing. The 49ers have been dealing with injuries and inconsistency on defense over the past couple seasons, and bringing back a familiar face like Greenlaw could provide some stability in the middle of the field. He knows the system, he knows his teammates, and he’s proven he can perform at a high level when healthy.

The one-year deal also suggests the 49ers are being cautious about long-term commitments, which is smart given Greenlaw’s injury history over his career. But if he can stay on the field and perform at the level he showed during his first stint in San Francisco, this could be a low-risk, high-reward move for the team. For Greenlaw, it’s a chance to return to a familiar situation and compete for a championship with a team that’s been in the conversation for years.