The San Francisco 49ers have wrapped up a key piece of their offseason business by agreeing to a contract extension with linebacker Fred Warner.
Following lucrative deals with quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle, Warner has now committed to the team through the 2029 season.
According to ESPN, Warner signed a three-year, $63 million extension on Monday. The deal makes Warner the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL, averaging $21 million per season. It also adds $56 million in guaranteed money to a contract that previously had none.
While Purdy’s recent contract was the largest in team history—five years, $265 million with $181 million guaranteed—Warner’s extension was expected to be more straightforward. He still had two years remaining on his 2021 deal, which was a five-year, $95 million contract.
The extension, similar to recent deals with Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey, focuses on adjusting the financial structure. It lowers Warner’s near-term salary cap hits, which were previously set to be among the highest at his position—$29.17 million in 2025 and $26.71 million in 2026. Those numbers will now drop significantly.
Warner began offseason activities with the rest of the team in April, expressing confidence that the extension would be finalized. The 28-year-old linebacker is coming off an impressive season, earning his fourth first-team All-Pro nod and third consecutive one. Notably, Warner played the last 13 games of the season with a small ankle fracture, relying on painkilling injections to stay on the field.
Despite the injury, Warner avoided surgery and reported feeling “great” when returning to offseason training.
With the contracts of Warner, Purdy, and Kittle all secured before organized team activities begin, the 49ers can now focus on preparing for training camp without major contract distractions.
This comes as a contrast to recent years when the team’s negotiations with stars like defensive end Nick Bosa, receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and left tackle Trent Williams stretched late into August or September, causing those players to miss much of training camp.
Now, with key players under contract early, San Francisco aims to bounce back after a disappointing 6-11 finish last season. The team hopes stability in its core roster will help fuel a stronger campaign in 2025.
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