The San Francisco 49ers have long been the standard in the league at linebacker, and they still are with Fred Warner, the best linebacker in the league, running the show. However, the group as a whole has fallen off a few notches from where it was just a few seasons ago. When the linebacker room consisted of Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Azeez Al-Shaair, it wasn’t a question which team had the best linebacker unit in the league.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, they no longer hold the throne. According to PFF, San Francisco doesn’t even have a top-five LB unit. In a recent ranking of all 32 teams linebacker units, PFF placed the 49ers at No. 7. While still pretty good, that’s low for a team that had a multi-year run as the unquestioned top group.
PFF ranks 49ers linebacker unit No. 7 in the NFL
PFF’s Dalton Wasserman explained that the presence of Warner is enough to give San Francisco a high ranking, but that the team needs to establish other guys in the room outside of Warner.
"Just having Fred Warner as the centerpiece of a linebacker unit merits a high spot in these rankings... The 49ers need to figure out what they have at the position beyond Warner."
Dalton Wasserman (PFF)
This is a fair assessment of the linebacker room. With Greenlaw and Al-Shaair no longer around, it’s time for new guys to step up. While the younger linebackers haven’t done so just yet, the 49ers’ track record makes it seem like those guys will eventually pan out. Warner was a third-round pick, Greenlaw was taken in the fifth, and Al-Shaair was undrafted. All three were developed into top linebackers by San Francisco.
Now, the franchise is starting that process again, with the help of Warner who’s still at the top of his game. The 49ers have sixth rounder Dee Winters entering year three, and rookie Nick Martin who they took in the third round in 2025. If both guys can step up and deliver this season, San Francisco should reclaim its throne.
