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Fueled by Sean Payton's 'disrespect,' 49ers' Dre Greenlaw dominates Broncos and lets former coach know

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw delivered a dominant performance against his former team, the Denver Broncos, on Sunday, recording 12 tackles in the 49ers' 24-14 victory. The game became a platform for Greenlaw to voice his lingering frustrations with his former head coach, Sean Payton, whom he accused of ignoring him during his brief but troubled tenure in Denver.

Greenlaw, who signed a three-year, $35 million deal with the Broncos ahead of the 2025 season, played just eight games—starting seven—due to a suspension and injuries, which he believes strained his relationship with Payton. The coach reportedly stopped communicating with him after Week 12, allegedly over lingering injury concerns, leaving Greenlaw feeling disrespected and isolated.

Postgame, Greenlaw confronted Payton with a blunt message, later confirming to media that he told the coach to 'get the f--k off the field.' His strong play in Sunday’s win, including four tackles in the divisional round and six in the AFC Championship loss, underscored his resilience despite the personal and professional challenges he faced in Denver.

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