49ers Fought to Keep Dre Greenlaw – But Lost to the Broncos

The San Francisco 49ers weren’t ready to let Dre Greenlaw walk without a fight.

Despite ultimately losing the 27-year-old linebacker to the Denver Broncos in free agency, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that the Niners made a last-ditch effort to retain their defensive standout—even after Denver had already secured a deal.

“You know, the Niners were trying to get back Dre Greenlaw, even after Denver had an agreement done with him,” Schefter said on Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM, via NBC Sports Bay Area.

“They were pushing to get that done. And, they were trying to flip his decision … I think they were pretty persuasive, but not persuasive enough. Greenlaw stood his ground and stayed with Denver.”

A Desperate Attempt—But No Cap Space to Back It Up

The 49ers wanted Greenlaw back. The problem? They simply didn’t have the money.

San Francisco has been struggling to pay key players, and Greenlaw—who has been a crucial piece of the defense for six seasons—was one of the cap casualties.

Now, instead of returning to a 49ers defense that helped take them to Super Bowl LVIII, Greenlaw joins a loaded Denver unit that was one of the league’s best in 2024. With Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Geno Smith in the AFC West, the Broncos knew they needed reinforcements. Greenlaw was their answer.

A Rough End to Greenlaw’s 49ers Career

It wasn’t long ago that Greenlaw was making game-changing plays for San Francisco. But in Super Bowl LVIII, disaster struck—he tore his Achilles, forcing him to miss the first 13 games of the 2024 season.

When he finally made his return on Thursday Night Football in Week 15 against the Rams, hopes were high. But after just two games, he was shut down again for the rest of the season.

Despite that, Denver saw enough in Greenlaw to believe he can still be an impact player in 2025.

What’s Next for the 49ers?

With Greenlaw gone, the 49ers are left with yet another hole on their roster—and limited resources to fix it. While they might not face Denver in the regular season, there’s always the possibility of a playoff showdown.

And if that happens? Greenlaw will be more than ready to remind his former team what they lost.