Reports: LB Dre Greenlaw returning to 49ers on 1-year deal

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has agreed to a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played his first six years before leaving last season for the Denver Broncos, according to multiple reports on Thursday.

Greenlaw, a fifth-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2019 out of Arkansas, will play for a deal worth $7.5 million, NFL Network reported.

The Broncos released Greenlaw, 28, this week after signing him to a three-year, $31.5 million contract last offseason. He finished with 43 tackles, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble in eight games (seven starts). He also had 10 tackles in two playoff games (no starts).

He had missed Denver's offseason program and the first six games of the 2025 slate because of thigh injuries. The league also suspended him for one game because of a confrontation with referee Brad Allen after the Broncos converted a game-winning field goal to defeat the New York Giants 33-32 in Greenlaw's first game with the team. The league said Greenlaw chased after Allen "and verbally threatened him as he tried to leave the field."

Greenlaw tore his Achilles tendon while playing for the 49ers in the 2023 season's Super Bowl, a 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He played in only two games for San Francisco the following season.

He has 498 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, 20 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 72 regular-season games (63 starts) for the 49ers (2019-24) and Broncos.

--Field Level Media