Fred Warner was a 2018 third round pick by the San Francisco 49ers and over the last seven seasons has arguably been the NFL’s best linebacker. There’s a reason why over the last five years the former BYU star has four Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro selections, including 2024.
It’s rare for a player to clearly establish himself year-in and year-out as perhaps the single best at his position, but Fred Warner has done that. At 28 years old, Warner is still smack dab in the middle of his prime and will likely go on from here to solidify his Hall of Fame credentials.
Fred Warner, future Hall of Famer.
That thought makes BYU fans swoon.
While the 6-11 49ers were one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season, Fred more than did his part to help his team succeed.
2024 Statistical Summary
17 games, 17 starts
131 tackles, 5 tackles for loss
1 sack, 2 quarterback hits
2 interceptions, 1 pick-six, 7 passes defended
4 forced fumbles
Fred Warner’s Season Overview
Despite breaking a bone in his ankle in Week 4 and playing through the injury without taking any time to rest or heal, Warner still dominated. His 131 tackles tied for 19th in the league. His elite 89.2 PFF grade ranked 4th of 189 linebackers.
The former BYU star was considered by many early in the season to be the leading candidate for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. PFF reported that through the season’s first four games his 95.9 grade was the highest ever for a linebacker since the site began providing grades in 2006.
However, a midseason swoon (at least by Warner’s standards) during which he recorded just 16 tackles over a four-game span downgraded his season from “historically incredible” to simply “incredible”. Playing through a broken ankle bone will do that.
FRED WARNER PICK SIX 🏈🔥
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 29, 2024
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/ZurRcd0O9g
Fred Warner’s Next Steps
The next step is for the former BYU star to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.
Two things will need to happen in order to do that. First, Fred’s going to need to stay healthy. Second, the 49ers are going to have to return to their winning ways. It's not uncommon for Player of the Year winners not only deliver eye-popping statistics, they do so on competitive teams that can make noise in the postseason. The 49ers have the talent and coaching to return to the NFL’s top ranks next year, and Warner will be poised for another great season.
Long term, if Fred Warner continues to do what he has done up to this point in his seven-year career, he’s going to end up in the Hall of Fame.
Another Cougar in Canton?
That’s a big deal. Today, Steve Young is the only former BYU player enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Getting Fred Warner a gold jacket would be a big, big deal for BYU.