GLENDALE – After a 3-14 season, it’s no shock that the Arizona Cardinals are the laughing bag of the NFL. Plenty of fans, experts and others have chimed in during this coaching cycle to describe how awful the situation is in Arizona. Unsurprisingly, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner was one of the people and had no love loss when talking about his NFC West division rival.

Warner appeared on the St. Brown podcast, with Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown, where the trio discussed the hardest division in football. The San Francisco had an easy argument discussing about three of the teams making the NFC final four. When Amon-Ra brought up the Cardinals, Warner didn’t minced his words.

Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) looks on after losing to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

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Warner takes shot at Cardinals:

The four-time All-Pro linebacker has been with San Francisco since 2018, and has an 8-7 record vs. the Cardinals. However, Warner and 49ers did go 2-0 against the club last season, on their way to a 12-5 record. Outside of Arizona, every team in the NFC West went 4-2, showcasing how even the competition was amongst the top three teams.

Nov 16, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (31) exits the field during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

The Cardinals went 0-6 vs. the NFC West this season to cap off the most franchise losses in a single season. Arizona hasn’t made the playoffs since 2021, while the other three NFC West teams have made it twice since then. Despite the harsh comparison by Warner, it fits and explains why the franchise’s coaching search has taken the longest of any team in the NFL because of the tough division.

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