What Makes the 49ers Feel Like Home for Dre Greenlaw

Home is where the heart is.

November 27, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) celebrates after defensive stop against the New Orleans Saints during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

From the moment Dre Greenlaw was released by the Denver Broncos, it was obvious that the San Francisco 49ers would attempt to bring him back.

Sure enough, as soon as Greenlaw was available, the two sides came together on a one-year deal. Greenlaw never truly wanted to depart the 49ers, and the 49ers didn't like seeing him go.

Now, the two sides are reunited. Greenlaw is back home where he belongs, which is what drew him to return to San Francisco. It is home to him.

What makes the 49ers home for Greenlaw

Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) runs after the catch against the San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images | Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

"It's the relationships I built in that building," Greenlaw said on The Set with Terron Armstead. "Just from top to bottom with the Yorks, with John (Lynch), Kyle (Shanahan). It really sucked to have to go through the offseason and what had went down... Fred, he came in the year before me, but I swear it's just a certain feeling we've got. We look across that, and we see each other, it's like, you're dang right it's for each other. You're not gonna let me down, I'm not gonna let you down.

"It's just such a weird connection. He knows I'm gonna put it all on the line. I know he's going to 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 like it's supposed to. But I'm thankful for it all. I'm thankful for all the relationships that I've had for those six years and kept along this past year, and will continue to keep it along this year as well. I'm turnt for it."

It's not as simple as being drafted by the 49ers. Yes, there will always be a sense of respect that a team drafted a player, but there are plenty of cases where a player hated his tenure with that team.

For Greenlaw, he loved every second of it. The same regime is still intact as well, which is a significant reason he returned to the 49ers. He could've gone to the Houston Texans or the Tennessee Titans.

He's fond of DeMeco Ryans and Robert Saleh, but the 49ers are his home. He attaches everything positive to the franchise, and it was a place he didn't really want to leave last year in free agency.

He's happy now after a trying year for him. He's back where he belongs.

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