San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw recorded a team-high 12 tackles and engaged in a verbal altercation with Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton following a 24-14 victory at Levi’s Stadium on October 4, 2026, driven by what he described as disrespect surrounding his offseason release.
The 49ers pushed their record to 4-0 on Sunday, October 4, 2026, thanks in large part to a defensive effort spearheaded by Dre Greenlaw. Facing his former team for the first time since his departure, the veteran linebacker set a physical tone from the opening quarter. Playing against the franchise that signed him to a three-year, $35 million contract in the spring of 2025 before releasing him in March, Greenlaw let his former coach hear it after stopping running back RJ Harvey near the Denver sideline.
Greenlaw Clashes With Sean Payton
Greenlaw’s animosity boiled over both during and after the game. Following a first-quarter tackle, he turned toward the Denver bench and pointed at Sean Payton. When the final whistle sounded on the 24-14 San Francisco victory, Greenlaw walked directly toward Payton near midfield, shouting before teammate Fred Warner intervened and pulled him away.
I told him to get the f–k off the field.
Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers linebacker
Speaking to reporters after the game, Greenlaw explained that his motivation stemmed from the disrespect he felt during the final weeks of his tenure in Denver and the manner of his release. He stated that Payton stopped speaking to him after Week 12 of the previous season and that his agent, rather than the coach himself, delivered the news that he was being cut.
While the hostility clearly persists between the linebacker and the Denver organization, he made a notable statement during his post-match media availability concerning his behavior. You know, it's stuff I wanna have back,
he shared.
I was blacked out,
Greenlaw said after San Francisco’s win moved the team to 4-0. I don't even remember.
Teammate Trent Williams added some perspective on his teammate’s intense state of mind after the final whistle. I told him after the game that I could tell he was about 98 percent blacked out,
49ers tackle Trent Williams said, smiling. Just seeing him hit somebody and get up and hit himself on the face is one of the coolest things.
Injuries Derail the Denver Stint
The friction between Greenlaw and the Broncos stems from an unproductive 2025 campaign. He was later suspended for a game following an incident involving a referee, limiting him to just eight total games and 43 tackles.
Denver released Greenlaw in March with a post-June 1 designation, which spread the remaining dead-money charge over 2026 and 2027. Denver will absorb approximately $2.17 million this season and another $2.17 million next year. In contrast to his struggles in Colorado, Greenlaw entered Sunday with 34 tackles through four games and added 12 more against Denver.
Kyle Shanahan Praises Greenlaw for Inspiring Teammates
“I think people know this, but if I had to wear a jersey, I’d probably wear his. Just the way he plays, what he’s done for us over these years, going back to his rookie year and getting us the number one seed in Seattle with the play he made on the goal line, and just the way he inspires people because of the way he plays.”
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers head coach
Referred to by Shanahan as a “family member,” Greenlaw was praised for displaying a fierce level of intensity that motivates his peers while unnerving his rivals.
“I think the world of him, love everything about him. He plays with that emotion … all good.”
Sean Payton, Denver Broncos head coach
With the win secured by a late 56-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to George Kittle with 2:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, Greenlaw ran into the end zone to celebrate and ultimately walked away with both a team-high defensive performance and the last word against his former team.
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