Warner earns First-Team All-Pro honors; two 49ers make Second-Team originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Fred Warner has earned one of the most prestigious NFL honors for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall.
The linebacker was the only 49ers player selected to the Associated Press First-Team All-Pro squad. Tight end George Kittle and fullback Kyle Juszczyk earned second-team All-Pro selections.
Despite playing for most of the season on a fractured ankle, Warner once again was a dominant force in the middle of the field, amassing 131 tackles, including five for a loss, two interceptions, a touchdown, a sack, seven passes defended and four forced fumbles over 17 games.
The 28-year-old was the lone bright spot for a San Francisco defense that regressed under first-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, who subsequently was relieved of his duties after the season ended.
The 49ers allowed 25.6 points per game in 2024, the fourth-worst mark in the NFL, and allowed 87 alone over their last two games — losses to the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals.
While plenty of injuries hampered the unit throughout the mediocre 6-11 campaign, the defense had plenty of opportunities to close out games. Instead, they blew numerous fourth-quarter leads.
With Sorensen out, San Francisco will need to find its fourth different defensive coordinator in four years. DeMeco Ryans took the Houston Texans’ head coach job after the 2022 season, and Steve Wilks was fired a year ago.
But Warner has been a constant for the 49ers even as they keep turning over the defensive coordinator position.
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