After spending a year in the Mile High City, Greenlaw returns to San Francisco and a collection of familiar faces, starting with head coach Kyle Shanahan. As he often did during the 49ers’ success during his first time in the Bay Area, Greenlaw will have to learn from another new defensive coordinator, much like he did with DeMeco Ryans, Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen in years past. This time, his new strategic manager will be former Buccaneers and Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.
That’s a no-brainer for Greenlaw. He’s returning to the place he knew as home for the first six years of his career before an Achilles injury suffered in Super Bowl LVIII set him on a long road to recovery that ultimately led to him signing with the Broncos in 2025. Despite his one-year absence, Greenlaw’s return feels right, especially for a 49ers team that got a No. 2 pick.
Plus, Greenlaw is reuniting with a former teammate and friend in Fred Warner.
“Honestly, it’s the relationships I’ve built in that building. Just top to bottom,” Greenlaw said. “At York’s (ownership), with (general manager) John (Lynch), Kyle. … Fred, he came in the year before me, but I swear there’s just a certain feeling that we have. We look over it and we see, it’s like you’re absolutely right, it’s for each other. You’re not going to let me down, I’m not going down.
“It’s just such a weird connection. He knows I’m going to put it all on the record. I know he’ll do the same and that’s all you can ask for. It’s like a partner in crime. It’s all going to work out the way it’s supposed to. But I’m grateful for it all.”
The NFL can be a brutal business at times, especially when injuries occur. Greenlaw learned that over the past two seasons, but Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s discussion of the veteran spoke volumes about the type of individual he is within a much larger organization.
“It was tough,” Payton said Tuesday at the NFL’s annual convention in Phoenix. “Here’s why: He’s so passionate. I’d say in my career as a coach, I’ve been fortunate enough to coach a lot of passionate players who love the game, and I think I’m always disappointed, internally, that it didn’t work out because I love that player. I love the way he competes. I love everything he brings. And you don’t feel responsible.”
Payton can absolve himself of such responsibility. Greenlaw’s journey brought him back to the place he knows best, which was a perfect fit for him at this stage of his career.
It will be up to the first pick in the fifth round to make the most of it.