It must be very difficult to be any other linebacker in the NFL trying to earn All-Pro honors when Fred Warner exists.
Through two weeks of the 2025 season, the 49ers star already looks to be on track to receive further distinction come the end of the season, and added another award to an impressive list as he was named Defensive Player of the Week following his outstanding performance in San Francisco’s win over the New Orleans Saints.
Warner was at his brilliant best in Week 2, registering 11 total tackles, seven of them solo, with one pass breakup and a forced fumble that he recovered himself.
The key play was the critical fumble Warner forced from Alvin Kamara with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter, which came with the Saints on the San Francisco 30-yard line as they sought to take the lead for the first time in the game.
That turnover enabled the 49ers up to take a 12-point lead on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Mac Jones to Jauan Jennings, with that deficit proving too much for New Orleans to overcome as the San Francisco defense closed the game out.
Through two games, Warner already has 19 total tackles and two tackles for loss to go with his pass breakup and his forced turnover. Forming a dynamic partnership with new starting WILL linebacker Dee Winters, Warner’s first two games have served of a reaffirmation of why his combination of incredible athleticism and unmatched playmaking instincts at the position make him the best in the game.
Last season, Warner was first-team All-Pro while playing most of the year with a fractured ankle. If he can avoid injury and sustain this remarkable standard in 2025, Warner figures to be a compelling candidate to add the Defensive Player of the Year award to his sparkling resume.
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