Sunday's matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos was an emotional one for linebacker Dre Greenlaw. He faced his former team and head coach Sean Payton, who moved on from him after just one season in Denver.
After six seasons with the 49ers, Greenlaw signed a three-year deal with the Broncos last offseason, only to be released after one injury-plagued year. The linebacker quickly returned to San Francisco, reuniting with Fred Warner to form one of football's best linebacker duos.
Greenlaw's emotions were evident throughout the 49ers' Week 4 matchup. Following multiple plays, he exchanged words with the Broncos' sideline, including Payton.
#49ers Dre Greenlaw makes a tackle and immediately has words with #Broncos HC Sean Payton 👀 pic.twitter.com/sCRjwQgECO
— ???????????????????????????????????????????? (@TheSFNiners) October 4, 2026
Those actions reportedly resulted in an NFL fine of $11,941 for taunting the opposing bench.
#49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw fined $11,941 for taunting the opposing bench, per a league source, during the #Broncos game
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 6, 2026
The fiery linebacker was so emotional after the game that Warner had to redirect him away from Payton.
#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw had to be held back by Fred Warner after today's game as he celebrated in front of Sean Payton.
Greenlaw made it clear that today's game against the Broncos—the team he played for last season—was personal.
(📽? @Romi_Bean)pic.twitter.com/caaljYrfDK
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 5, 2026
Uncertainty surrounded Greenlaw's status entering the game. The linebacker was listed as questionable with a quadriceps injury, but he did everything he could to be available for the matchup against his former team.
"There was definitely something a little extra for him this week," Warner said after the game. "You know, he got banged up last game. Everybody's asking him, 'Hey, you going to be able to make it?' And he said, 'I wouldn't miss this one.' So, he had extra emotion going into this game. I told him just to keep it -- you know -- use it wisely, which he did."
Greenlaw, however, downplayed his actions toward the Broncos' sideline.
"I love all the players, every single person that's on that field over there," Greenlaw said. "There was a couple of them that wasn't there last year, they got to talk. But everybody I was with last year, for the most part, they know how I play the game. So it's all love and respect."
While Greenlaw clearly has strong feelings about his time with Payton and how his tenure in Denver ended, the Broncos' head coach made his opinion of the 49ers linebacker clear.
"I think the world of him," Payton said after the game. "I really love everything about him, and he plays with that emotion. So, it's all good."
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