All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner's three-year deal was the third major contract extension for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. It will keep the eighth-year pro in The Bay through the 2029 season, and it rounds out the organization's list of top-priority players to lock down ahead of the 2025 campaign.
"I'm so grateful to everyone involved including the whole York family, John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan," Warner said. "It was pretty seamless, and I'm happy for George Kittle and Brock Purdy to get their stuff done too."
He officially put pen to paper on the agreement on May 22, just two days following Purdy's five-year extension.
"It honestly does mean the world," Warner said. "I said it when I signed my deal during some of the media stuff I was doing. When I got drafted here in 2018, it was truly a dream come true. It was the exact spot I wanted to be at because I knew they had a vision for me as a younger player who had never even played stack, off-the-ball linebacker. I was so raw at the time.
"Being able to fulfill my dream of being an NFL player, of being a 49er, I truly feel that same exact way. Signing this deal, it still is a dream to me."
In an offseason filled with turnover for the defense, signing Warner means San Francisco will keep their Mike linebacker in place for years to come and will have a veteran presence on hand to help develop their younger defensive corps.
Warner's leadership skills were on display on Thursday during the team's first open OTA practice. The linebacker was part of the large contingency of 49ers players to opt in for this voluntary, Phase 3 of the offseason workout program. He was suited and observing practice from the sideline, coaching up the revamped linebacker crew. At one point during team drills, Warner had a number of those younger players circled around him, including third-round pick Nick Martin.
"I've loved everything that Nick has been about since he arrived," Warner noted. "I heard the whole story about he said he had my jersey before coming onto the team. In some of those situations, guys don't want to seem like they're like 'too cool' or I don't know what it is... But, he's come in and asked me every single question know to man.
"I've seen the athletic ability flash on the field in the way he closes. He closes space really quickly. He already has the great mindset of want to learn. I'm really happy with where he's at."
