San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner made history in the team's 27-7 season-opening win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, surpassing Patrick Willis as the franchise's all-time leader in tackles.
Warner entered the 2026 season with 948 career tackles, just two behind Willis' record of 950. The 29-year-old reached 951 tackles by the second quarter after recording three tackles, moving past the Hall of Fame linebacker for the top spot in 49ers history.
Warner ultimately finished the season opener with 11 tackles, including five solo stops and six assisted tackles. He also produced one forced fumble, bringing his career total to 18.
The achievement came after Warner's 2025 campaign was cut dramatically short. A dislocated and fractured right ankle limited him to six games, during which he compiled 51 tackles, two tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Before that injury-shortened season, Warner had never recorded fewer than 118 tackles in a full NFL season.
Warner was selected by San Francisco in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft and is now in his ninth NFL season. Willis spent eight seasons with the 49ers before retiring, finishing his San Francisco career with 950 tackles.
The new tackle record adds to Warner's growing list of franchise accomplishments. He previously broke Willis' 49ers record for forced fumbles, making the latest milestone another instance of Warner moving past Willis in the team's record book.