Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Mason Cameron has released his list of the top 32 NFL linebackers heading into the 2025 season, and San Francisco 49ers star Fred Warner sits alone at No. 1. What truly sets this ranking apart is that Warner is the only linebacker placed in Tier 1, underscoring just how highly regarded he is by the analytics community.
In most PFF rankings, multiple players are grouped within each tier. Not this time. Warner’s solo presence in Tier 1 speaks volumes about the 49ers linebacker’s elite level of play.
“Fresh off a $63 million extension, Warner stands alone in Tier 1,” Cameron wrote. “The four-time All-Pro has a long history of elite play in all facets, having charted in the top five among linebackers in each of the past five seasons.
“Over that span, Warner has been far and away the most impressive linebacker in the NFL, generating a combined 93.3 PFF coverage grade and 91.6 PFF run-defense grade.”
While Warner didn’t finish last season as PFF’s highest-graded linebacker, it’s important to note that he played through a fractured ankle, an injury that required rest, not surgery, to heal. Despite the setback, the 49ers’ defensive leader still delivered an outstanding season.
49ers fans can breathe easy knowing Warner is now fully healthy.
“I feel great,” Warner said last month. “[The] ankle’s a thing of the past now, thank God, because that was tough, trying to deal with that all season. But feel great now.”
Even while injured, Warner posted over 100 tackles for the seventh straight season, an impressive feat given the circumstances. He finished 2024 with 131 tackles, two interceptions, one touchdown, seven passes defensed, and one sack. He’s never had fewer than 118 tackles in a single season.
Looking ahead, Warner is confident his best football is still to come.
“I promise you, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” he said. “I’m just getting started.”
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