Even Unable to Take the Field with Coach Kyle Shanahan, 49ers Superstar Fred Warner Still Contributes from the Shadows for the San Francisco Team

San Francisco, California – 11/14/2025

In a season full of difficulties for the San Francisco 49ers, when a serious ankle injury has forced captain Fred Warner to miss games on the field, the team still feels his powerful presence. Although he cannot fight alongside his teammates, Warner has chosen to contribute in a different way – through leadership spirit and quiet encouragement in the locker room, igniting the fire for the young players facing challenges.

Linebacker Tatum Bethune shared that Warner is not just a captain but a symbol of resilience.

“Fred is not just a captain, but an invaluable source of motivation for us. He always encourages us to confidently learn and grow, not just reminding us what to do but also creating opportunities for each person to express themselves. Fred’s resilient spirit and leadership have helped us mature and become stronger every day,”

Bethune said, his eyes lighting up with pride when mentioning the captain.

Even without being on the field, Fred Warner remains the guiding light for the 49ers players. His simple conversations, the moments of encouragement when players feel disappointed, have helped maintain a flame within the team. He does not just teach them how to play football, but also how to live, how to fight in every circumstance. In a season full of fluctuations, his absence highlights even more the importance of a spiritual leader.

Certainly, Warner’s absence has created a hard-to-fill void in the 49ers’ defense. However, his words of encouragement and the way he continues to work quietly from outside the field have strongly inspired his teammates. The days without him on the field have helped the players realize that the 49ers’ fighting spirit does not just come from tackles or perfect combinations, but also from belief in each other and in the resilient leadership of people like Fred Warner.

As San Francisco prepares to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11, Tatum Bethune does not hide his determination.

“Even without Fred, we will still fight our hardest,”

he affirmed.

“We want to win consecutively and prove that the 49ers’ spirit is never lacking, and that is the greatest gift we can give to Fred.”

The entire team, even missing the captain on the field, can still feel his strength in every player’s heart, and that is something nothing can replace.

Warner’s absence does not diminish the love that 49ers Nation has for him. In fact, it is precisely because of that spirit and silent dedication that the team becomes even stronger, so that one day, when Warner returns, everyone will prove that nothing is impossible with the 49ers – not when you have people like Fred Warner leading the way