Though Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings didn't go as planned, the 49ers had a clear bright spot in Fred Warner.
The three-time All-Pro linebacker racked up an unbelievable stat line of nine tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. Both of his turnovers came in clutch situations as well, with the San Francisco defense backed up into its own red zone.
Warner already garnered plenty of praise in the week leading up to today's contest with New York Jets coach Robert Saleh dubbing him a "first-ballot Hall of Famer."
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After the game, cornerback Charvarius Ward declared the 49ers need to play more like Warner:
"We got to try and match his intensity, his level of play."
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) September 15, 2024
Charvarius Ward believes the 49ers' defense needs to emulate Fred Warner pic.twitter.com/zJlUfa6ozx
The rest of the NFL world clearly agrees, as evidenced by these posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, during the game:
All Pro @fred_warner AGAIN! Saves a TD for the @49ers. This would be bad without his huge turnovers!
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) September 15, 2024
pic.twitter.com/4c8ypbXQTB
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Fred Warner is not a football player, he is a god amongst mere men.
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) September 15, 2024
He is a deity in football pads!!! @49ers pic.twitter.com/lzUiwZtwd8
My weekly Fred Warner HOF tweet
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) September 15, 2024
Fred Warner is just so f’ing good at his job.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) September 15, 2024
Fred Warner is an alien… and also a former Safety pic.twitter.com/RFjb5aNOi0
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) September 15, 2024
All Pro @fred_warner
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) September 15, 2024
pic.twitter.com/44ResHo026
There isn't a linebacker playing better than Fred Warner.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 15, 2024
That was Fred Warner's 13th career forced fumble and his second of the season. He ranks No. 2 in franchise history behind Patrick Willis' 16 forced fumbles.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) September 15, 2024
Just give Fred Warner a blank check pic.twitter.com/xroc6SvLZV
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) September 15, 2024
Is the gap between Fred Warner and the next best linebacker the biggest gap between 1 and 2 at any position in the league? Sure feels like it https://t.co/LZDCELCogZ
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) September 15, 2024
Fred Warner is absolutely dominating this game
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) September 15, 2024
Fred Warner the only thing keeping SF in this game. dude is on one.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) September 15, 2024
Fred Warner single handedly keeping SF in this one
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) September 15, 2024
It's still very early in the season, but it appears the hype train for Warner's Defensive Player of the Year candidacy already is underway.
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