Dre Greenlaw Details Rough Broncos Season Ahead of 49ers Camp Return

Dre Greenlaw is back with the San Francisco 49ers, and he’s not holding back about why he wanted out of Denver.

The 49ers agreed to terms with Greenlaw on a one-year contract worth up to $7.5 million in March, according to the Associated Press, bringing the veteran linebacker back to the team that drafted him in 2019 after a single, injury-plagued season with the Broncos. The deal includes $6 million fully guaranteed, according to contract details published by OverTheCap.com.

Now, with 49ers training camp underway in Santa Clara, Greenlaw is explaining exactly what went wrong in Denver — and it wasn’t just the football.

Greenlaw Details Physical and Environmental Struggles in Denver

Greenlaw signed a three-year, $35 million deal with the Broncos in March 2025, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It did not go the way either side hoped. He suffered a quadriceps injury in training camp that cost him the first six weeks of the season, then missed additional time late in the year with a hamstring issue. When he did play, he was limited to eight total games and also served a one-game suspension for confronting an official after a Week 6 win over the Giants.

According to a paraphrased report from The Athletic (New York Times), Greenlaw pointed to more than just the injuries. He described a jarring shift from Kyle Shanahan’s practice style in San Francisco to Sean Payton’s approach in Denver, contrasting Payton’s long practice sessions with what he characterized as Shanahan’s emphasis on keeping players fresh.

Greenlaw also didn’t hide his frustration with Denver’s altitude, which he said affected his sleep and left him physically drained throughout the season. He put it bluntly: “F—ing altitude. My mouth’s dry, my nose is dry, I can’t sleep. … I’m fighting demons left and right.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton offered his own read on the situation back in November, telling reporters the decision to stick with Greenlaw through his injuries was difficult but ultimately paid off once he got healthy. The Broncos went on to release Greenlaw as a post-June 1 designation this spring, clearing the way for his return to the Bay Area.

49ers Locker Room Welcomes Greenlaw’s “Bully” Energy Back

Since rejoining the 49ers for training camp, Greenlaw has quickly reestablished himself as a defensive leader. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir didn’t mince words when asked what his return means to the unit, according to ClutchPoints: “He’s the bully. We got our bully back.”

Lenoir added that he was frustrated when Greenlaw first left for Denver last offseason, pointing to the intensity the linebacker brings on every snap. Quarterback Brock Purdy echoed that sentiment, calling Greenlaw “a real brother” who has already made an impact on the team’s younger defenders during camp.

The reunion puts Greenlaw back alongside All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, a pairing that anchored one of the NFL’s most disruptive defenses during San Francisco’s 2022 and 2023 seasons, when Greenlaw combined for well over 200 tackles across the two campaigns. Warner is also working back from a right ankle fracture that ended his 2025 season early, meaning both linebackers are betting on health as much as scheme fit heading into the fall.

What Comes Next

San Francisco’s defense took a step back in 2025 amid a rash of injuries, and the front office used free agency to rebuild around Raheem Morris as the new defensive coordinator. Greenlaw’s return, alongside the earlier re-signing of receiver Deebo Samuel, reflects a broader theme of the 49ers reconnecting with familiar faces this offseason.

Whether that translates to results will depend heavily on health — the same issue that derailed Greenlaw’s Denver tenure and limited Warner last season. For now, both players are back on the practice field together in Santa Clara, and the locker room appears energized by it.

Data Snapshot: Greenlaw’s Recent NFL Seasons