THURSDAY, 7:45pm: The 49ers have officially announced the extension.
“Fred’s leadership is exemplary and his approach to his craft is contagious,” said GM John Lynch. “Fred sets the tone for our entire team with the consistency, speed and physicality with which he plays. Off the field, his passion, energy, and professionalism are second to none and truly embody what it means to be a Niner. We are extremely proud to get this extension done and lock Fred in for the future.”
MONDAY, 4:00pm: Talks with Fred Warner have indeed resulted in an extension agreement. The 49ers have come to terms with the All-Pro linebacker on another lucrative deal. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports team and player have agreed to a three-year extension. The pact is worth $63MM in total and includes $56MM in guarantees. For the second time in his career, Warner holds the title of the NFL’s highest-paid middle linebacker.
The top of the LB market stood at $20MM annually entering Monday, with Warner ranking second behind only Roquan Smith in terms of AAV. This latest San Francisco commitment will move Warner up to $21MM per season, which represents a slight raise on that front while no doubt lowering his scheduled cap hits for the next two years. The four-time Pro Bowler is now under contract through 2029.
Joel Corry of CBS Sports notes Warner will still earn $18.25MM in 2025, but this pact includes $5MM in additional compensation through 2026 compared to the previous one. $39.5MM of full guarantees are in place. Between now and the end of the 2028 season, $42MM in new money will be paid out.
In recent years, San Francisco has seen negotiations for its top players drag deep into the summer. That has not proven to be the case in 2025, however. Tight end George Kittle landed a new pact recently, and that was followed in short order by Brock Purdy becoming the league’s latest big-money quarterback. Warner loomed as the next logical target for such a commitment on the part of the 49ers, although as of April it seemed as though there was still plenty of work to be done on the negotiating front.
More recently, though, it became clear progress was being made. The latest update on the matter noted an agreement was close, so today’s news comes as no surprise. Warner will remain a focal point of San Francisco’s LB unit in particular and the team’s defense in general for years to come, something of increased importance given the departures seen on that side of the ball this spring. Dre Greenlaw was among the starters who left in free agency, with the pending Purdy extension playing a role in the 49ers’ spending plans. Obviously a new Warner pact was also in the team’s budget.
The former third-rounder has handled full-time starting duties during each of his seven years in the league; he has missed only one game during that span. Warner’s consistency as a run defender (at least 118 tackles each season) and play against the pass (seven interceptions, 28 pass deflections) has helped his case for being the league’s best linebacker, and his financial situation once again reflects that. The 28-year-old will remain in the Bay Area through the remainder of his prime.
Improved play on both sides of the ball will be required if the 49ers are to return to the postseason in 2025. Better health on offense will be a key factor, but the while the team’s defense integrates a number of new starters Warner will continue in his pivotal role with his long-term future secured.
a steal in my opinion. as the heart and soul of that defense and the best MLB in the game. Or at least top 2 or 3.
Agreed. Would much rather have him than Roquan.
He is great.
Think Greenlaw was the heart and soul though, team played different with him out there. Warner is the brain.
Greenlaw was our Winter. Thumper that elevated our tackle violence. Gonna miss that dude for sure.
He just can’t stay healthy enough to play.
I’m glad this offseason there is NO DRAMA. Fred said he wasn’t going to hold out/ in and a deal got done. I just may have to break my rule of Niner legends only jerseys and pick up one of Kittle or Warner. Maybe a Purdy. Bang Bang.
No Bosa, Lenoir, CMC, or Jennings?? lol
I’m my opinion, as of right now, there are about a handful of tone setters and leaders for the 49ers on the field. These guys might not be the absolute best players the 49ers have, but they embody what it means to be a San Francisco 49er.
1. D Lenoir (DeMo)
2. F.Warner
3. G.Kittle
4. J.Jennings
Honorable mention: R.Green and especially Malik Mustapha are the next two guys that fire everyone up and bring passion and a fiery presence to the team every time they step on the field.
Brock, CMC, and Big Trent are just the leaders on the field. They are mostly silent assassins, but occasionally, if they think the team needs it, even they will show their fire, passion, and love for playing hard and espwcially playing hard for eachother. They are more like the big brothers of the team…
Hopefully soon, I expect to see at least one or two of their recent draftees (i.e. Collins, West, Mykel, and potentially Stout) as some guys that the 49ers desperately need to carry that torch.
This dude has earned it. I never knew about him till watching niner games and was like “who the hell is #54? He’s getting out of every single pile”. He is everywhere.
You must not know football…
Yes that’s probably it 🙄 or it could be that I’m not a whiner fan or a Utah St fan.
Never knew about the best MLB in football….