Fred Warner Says He Will Return for the Playoffs Despite Midseason Surgery — Nothing Is More Important Than the 49ers Winning

San Francisco, California — As the San Francisco 49ers continue their late-season push toward January football, one unexpected storyline has quietly reignited belief inside the locker room: Fred Warner is not done with the 2025 season yet.

According to team officials, Warner is aggressively targeting a potential return for the NFL playoffs — a stunning development considering the severity of the ankle injury that appeared to end his season back in early October. What was once viewed as a long-term absence has now become a question of timing, pain tolerance, and trust between player and staff.

Warner suffered a dislocated and fractured right ankle during a midseason game when a teammate accidentally rolled onto his leg while finishing a tackle. The injury was gruesome enough that many inside the organization immediately ruled out a return this year. Surgery followed, and the initial outlook was simple: recover, rehab, and focus on 2026.

But Warner had other ideas.

“He’s attacking the rehab,” President of Football Operations John Lynch said this week. “He’s ahead of schedule, and we’re at least having conversations now that we didn’t think we’d be having.”

That alone has shifted the tone around the 49ers’ postseason outlook.

Warner has long been the emotional and tactical backbone of San Francisco’s defense. A four-time First-Team All-Pro, he has recorded over 100 tackles in every full season of his career prior to 2025 and has been one of the league’s most complete linebackers — capable of shutting down the run, carrying receivers in coverage, and calling adjustments before the snap.

Before the injury, Warner had already logged 51 tackles and forced two fumbles in just six games. His absence since then has been felt. While the 49ers have remained competitive defensively, the unit has lacked its usual control in the middle of the field. San Francisco currently ranks near the bottom of the league in sacks and interceptions — a reflection of missing its defensive conductor.

For Warner, however, this isn’t about numbers or accolades.

“This team is built to win now,” he said earlier this season. “If there’s a chance I can be out there and help us, that’s what matters. Nothing is more important than the 49ers winning.”

The quote resonates because it reflects how Warner is viewed internally. He isn’t just a star defender — he’s a standard-setter. Teammates have repeatedly pointed to his preparation, accountability, and leadership as central pillars of the team’s identity.

San Francisco enters the final stretch of the regular season at 11–4, already clinched for the playoffs but still fighting for seeding and potential home-field advantage. In a tight NFC race, even the possibility of Warner returning — whether limited or situational — represents a massive psychological boost.

The 49ers are being cautious. No timeline has been announced. No promises made. Medical evaluations will ultimately decide whether Warner can safely return. But the mere fact that the conversation exists speaks volumes.

In January football, experience matters. Pain tolerance matters. And belief matters most of all.

Fred Warner hasn’t guaranteed he’ll be back. He’s simply made one thing clear: if there’s any way to help carry the 49ers toward a championship, he intends to try.

For a team chasing another Super Bowl run, that mindset may matter just as much as his presence on the field.