Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) reacts after a play during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Sean Thomas-Imagn Images
The San Francisco 49ers are happy about the return of Dre Greenlaw, and one player called him a bully on the field. Also, Greenlaw’s intensity in training camp will have the 49ers players on their toes, according to a post on X by Vic Tafur.
“Marques Sigle says that if Dre Greenlaw sees that players are sleepy in the morning, he “shakes them and screams at them” to make sure they are ready to go.”
Greenlaw is a seven-year NFL veteran. He played his first six seasons with the 49ers before moving on to the Broncos last year. The Broncos opted out of his three-year deal, and the 49ers grabbed him back for this season.
49ers Dre Greenlaw ready to bounce back
Injuries have been a part of Greenlaw’s career. And they slowed him last year, according to The Athletic.
“There were some dark moments,” Greenlaw said. “It’s tough, because I never got a chance to give them all I had. There’s so much anger, frustration, and you just want to go out there and prove (your worth) to everybody. But you can’t. There were times when it was like, ‘Man, I don’t want to show my face in this building.’ Tough year.
“I never felt like I was a part of the team because I wasn’t (out) there. (And) I was always in the training room. I knew the trainers more than I knew the teammates.”
Greenlaw said he had to work through some things to return to the 49ers. They let him go after the 2024 season.
“It was a trust thing,” Greenlaw said. “I tend to get with people that I can trust. So I felt a little bit in the gray area with everything, because it was like, ‘Damn, what if I go and get hurt? Am I gonna get cut?’ I thought maybe in Denver, I’ve got a little bit more string if something happens. In (San Francisco), if you get paid — and they (initially) didn’t want to give it to you — it stands out (if you get hurt).”