49ers star Fred Warner doesn’t attend brutal loss to Seahawks for good reason

The San Francisco 49ers really could’ve used Fred Warner out there on the field and in the locker room vs. the Seattle Seahawks in Saturday night’s brutal NFC West title loss. He wasn’t even in the stadium for the game, but for a good reason.

The 29-year-old four-time All-Pro linebacker broke and dislocated his ankle back in October and held out hope he could return with a deep 49ers’ playoff run. That possibility went way down in San Francisco’s 13-3 loss to Seattle as the team lost out on the No. 1 seed and a bye and will now be on the road for the Wild Card game next weekend and likely all playoffs should it win.

Warner has been the team’s No. 1 cheerleader at games like a week ago vs. the Chicago Bears when he was seen firing up the crowd (and team) at Levi’s Stadium and blowing the fog horn.

Chase Lucas on Fred Warner sounding the fog horn pregame and being on the sideline with the team during the game:

“Seeing him on the jumbotron doing the horn, it just shows that the captain’s not too far away.” pic.twitter.com/4srpEw7ydv
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) December 29, 2025

His absence as just a fan was even felt on Saturday for the final home game. So where was he?

His wife Sydney went into labor

Sydney Warner posted at the hospital watching the game with Fred where she’s in labor with their second child.

fred warner ain’t at the game tonight because his wifey’s in labour & they’re watching the game from the hospital 🥹 pic.twitter.com/aMVcQgSVlF
— crys; 🏈 (@crystalscuor) January 4, 2026