Why Dre Greenlaw left a injury-riddled year with Broncos behind to rejoin 49ers

Dre Greenlaw is officially back with the San Francisco 49ers. After spending the 2025 NFL season with the Denver Broncos, the veteran linebacker has revealed that a string of injuries prevented him from truly enjoying his time in Colorado.

In 2024, Greenlaw suffered a devastating Achilles injury during the 49ers’ Super Bowl appearance. While he successfully recovered and returned to the field with the Broncos, a series of lower-body injuries continued to haunt him throughout his tenure in Denver.

Following that injury-plagued season, Greenlaw has chosen to rejoin the Niners. He recently explained that his frustration in Denver stemmed almost entirely from these persistent health issues, which kept him from playing at his usual explosive level.

“Going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 was a huge difference, especially not being able to practice in the defense,” Greenlaw said on The Set podcast. “It’s just kinda like, for me, the fact that I’m not healthy, I don’t feel that twitch or that gear that I felt like I need to have, but, obviously, I’m out here trying to do everything I can to be on the field. It makes it tough when you pay a guy $11 mil and he’s only on the field 50 percent of the time. It made it tough for me. It made it to the point where it kind of makes you not happy.”

The 49ers’ ongoing battle with injuries

In recent years, the 49ers have faced heavy criticism and scrutiny due to the high volume of injuries sustained by their core players. This trend has even birthed a viral “conspiracy theory” linking an electrical substation near the team’s practice facility to the recurring health problems.

While there is no scientific evidence confirming that the substation is responsible for these injuries, the frequency of setbacks in the Bay Area has become a major talking point. Both fans and players have expressed concern over what is preventing the roster from staying healthy.

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Now that Greenlaw has returned, he aims to remain injury-free during his second stint with the Niners. However, significant worry remains regarding the team’s overall durability. San Francisco must find a way to mitigate these health risks if they hope to return to championship contention.

A challenging 2026 season ahead

The 49ers enter the 2026 season facing a daunting divisional landscape. They share the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champions, who are already considered the early favorites to defend their division title.

The division also features the Los Angeles Rams, who remain perennial Super Bowl contenders, and the Arizona Cardinals, who are undergoing a major transformation with Tua Tagovailoa now expected to lead the offense. It is a tough road ahead for Kyle Shanahan’s squad as they look to reclaim the NFC West.