Star 49ers linebacker Fred Warner tells it how it is, and for that, his running mate Dee Winters is grateful.

Winters explained how Warner’s honest leadership has helped him make strides over his three seasons with San Francisco in an exclusive interview on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “49ers Talk” with Matt Maiocco.

“I think it’s tough love,” Winters told Maiocco about Warner. “I mean, he just wants whoever’s playing with him — honestly, it’s all 10 guys who are beside him, he’s going to show tough love. Whether you make a good play, he’s going to congratulate you; if you need to be on your job, he’ll let you know in a hurry.”

Warner, a four-time All-Pro, has taught Winters a lot since the 49ers selected him with the No. 216 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. And Winters has aced his recent tests. 

He had 44 tackles and four passes defensed over 15 games — 10 starts — when stepping in for former San Francisco star Dre Greenlaw in 2024. And over two games in the 2025 NFL season, Winters has had 14 tackles, with two for losses.

Watching Warner dominate has helped Winters see what success at the highest level looks like.

“Since my rookie year, I feel like I was asking questions nonstop; he was probably tired of me,” Winters said with a laugh. “But I think trying to get into his brain — how did he process things when he was a rookie until now — just learning, honestly.”

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and the 49ers clearly have a lot of trust in Winters and were comfortable with losing Greenlaw to the Denver Broncos this offseason because of his internal replacement.

And it’s no wonder why.

Being someone his teammates can rely on is a big deal for Winters — a trait right out of Warner’s playbook.

“My biggest thing, for me, is not letting anyone down on my team,” Winters said. “I don’t want to be that guy who’s constantly messing up or not doing their job. Any time I’m out there, I’m trying to do my job and make the best of it.”

The future and present seem bright for Winters. And playing with the league’s best linebacker, of course, doesn’t hurt.

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