The heart and soul of the San Francisco 49ers defense is here to stay. In a bold move that reverberated across the NFL landscape Tuesday morning, the 49ers announced they have signed All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to a massive 3-year, $63 million contract extension, including a staggering $56.7 million in guaranteed money.
The deal not only makes Warner one of the highest-paid linebackers in football once again but also reinforces San Francisco’s long-standing commitment to its defensive identity.
“Fred embodies everything we stand for—toughness, leadership, and relentless pursuit of excellence,” said 49ers GM John Lynch in a statement released by the team. “He’s the heartbeat of our locker room and a cornerstone of our championship-caliber defense.”
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the franchise, as it looks to bounce back after falling short in Super Bowl LIX earlier this year. With several veterans approaching the end of their deals and salary cap concerns looming, some speculated the 49ers might wait until the end of the 2025 season to negotiate with Warner. Instead, they wasted no time making sure their defensive general remains in red and gold through 2028.
Warner, 28, has been a model of consistency and production since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2018. Over the past seven seasons, he’s racked up over 900 tackles, 15 forced fumbles, and countless game-changing plays. His sideline-to-sideline range, elite football IQ, and vocal leadership have made him the anchor of one of the league’s most feared defenses.
After signing the deal, Warner spoke briefly with reporters, visibly emotional about staying with the team that drafted him.
“San Francisco believed in me when a lot of people didn’t,” Warner said. “This city, this fan base, this organization—they’ve all become family. I want to retire a Niner. And I’m more motivated than ever to bring a championship back here.”
The extension is also seen as a statement from the 49ers’ front office to the rest of the league. Despite challenges in keeping a roster full of stars intact, San Francisco continues to double down on its core players—signing not just talent, but tone-setters.
Warner’s deal follows other major extensions given to Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel in recent years, making it clear that the Niners plan to remain contenders in the ultra-competitive NFC.
“I feel like we’ve built something special here,” Warner added. “We’ve had our heartbreaks, no doubt. But we’re not done. I’m not done. And I’m not settling until we’re holding that trophy.”
With training camp just weeks away, the timing of the deal allows Warner to focus fully on football, free of distractions. And with the linebacker corps now anchored for the foreseeable future, the 49ers look primed to return to the Super Bowl hunt in 2025 with one of the league’s most dominant defenders leading the charge.