The Denver Broncos signed inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw as one of their biggest prizes in NFL free agency.
The San Francisco 49ers desperately didn’t want that to happen.
According to a report from Luca Evans of The Denver Post on Sunday, GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan flew to Greenlaw’s home in Texas to ask him to stay with the Niners. In fact, they reportedly outbid the Broncos, who gave Greenlaw a new contract worth $31.5 million over the next three seasons.
Their efforts were admirable, but they weren’t enough. Greenlaw made it official with Denver earlier this month, and he’ll now patrol the middle of the field for a defense that largely overachieved in 2024.
“The 49ers’ brass only flew out — and their offer only increased — after the Broncos had already come after Greenlaw, sources said,” Evans writes in his story.
#49ers GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan flew to LB Dre Greenlaw’s home in Texas in a last-ditch effort to keep him after he agreed to a deal with the #Broncos, even increasing their offer to beat Denver’s.
But it was too late.
Story via @bylucaevans at the Denver Post:… pic.twitter.com/pDRGiDttr2
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 30, 2025
Greenlaw, 27, is a 2019 fifth-round pick who blossomed into one of the better players on the 49ers over the last six years. He only played in two games last season after tearing his Achilles during Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII win against San Francisco.
Dre Greenlaw has recorded 455 tackles, 18 of which were for a loss and 3.5 sacks with three interceptions and 14 passes defended across 64 career games, all in the Bay. His run-stopping ability might be his best trait.
Greenlaw had some really memorable moments for a good 49ers group, including one during his rookie season when he made a game-saving tackle on the goal line in Week 17. That play secured San Francisco the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
And if it were up to Lynch and Shanahan, Dre Greenlaw would still be playing for the 49ers. Instead, he’s a member of the Broncos, with a very cool back story on how it all happened and felt like “destiny” according to the piece from Evans.
To check it out, click here.