Why Warner believes Greenlaw is a fit for the 49ers' Dwight Clark Award

Why Warner believes Greenlaw is a fit for the 49ers The Dwight Clark Award originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Star 49ers linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are very close and their friendship was on full display at the annual Dwight Clark Legacy Series event Thursday night at the California Theater in San Jose.

Warner, who last year received the Dwight Clark Award, which “honors the current 49ers player who best embodies Dwight's team spirit and camaraderie,” detailed what makes Greenlaw such a special person and worthy of this year's honor might.

“Yes. “Dre means everything to me,” Warner said of Greenlaw to NBC Sports Bay Area's Laura Britt. “I've always said, 'Without Dre, there's no me.' I know a lot of people in the Super Bowl when he got hurt saw that video of me on the sideline getting emotional about him – those were real feelings that's a brother to me that's a guy – me and he goes to war every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and we go out there and try to knock out a few people.”

“No one deserves this award more than [Dre’s] the ultimate teammate. Dre cares so much about his teammates, he mobilizes the guys and we all feed off his energy and the way he plays the game, so I'm really happy to see him win this award tonight.”

When Greenlaw suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII, Warner was in disbelief and deeply heartbroken for his teammate. On the contrary: It shows how much Greenlaw means to Warner and the 49ers.

The two have been close teammates with the 49ers since 2019 and have put together some elite San Francisco defenses worthy of two Super Bowl appearances.

Warner has no doubt that Greenlaw is deserving of the Dwight Clark Award, as No. 57's energy and dedication to the 49ers is infectious.

“He's a little crazy on the field, I'll just say it,” Warner said hilariously, sparking loud laughter from the audience. “That’s what makes him so great. There's something wrong with him, right?

“But Dre is just a genuine human being, and I think that's something that people can associate with Dre – when he's in the locker room, when he's in the weight room [and] when he is on the field, [he’s] Just being yourself – that’s what I connected with. Like I said, that's a brother to me and [Dre] will always be.”

Warner loves the authenticity of his “brother” Greenlaw.

Not only is Greenlaw a great player on the field and a great teammate in the locker room, but he also exudes a passion that fans of all sizes can admire.

Greenlaw's commitment to being the best person he can be will be critical to his rehab ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

And Warner, like San Francisco, can't wait for the reigning Dwight Clark Award winner to get back on stage.

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