The last time the San Francisco 49ers played in the Super Bowl, Dre Greenlaw was a rookie. The hard-hitting linebacker has been motivated by thinking back on that event and the devastating loss to the Kansas City Chiefs four years prior. Greenlaw is not going to take this fresh start for granted. He’s prepared to give it his all in Super Bowl 58 this weekend because you never know when the next chance to seize an opportunity will arise.
Success as a rookie can lead one to believe that chances such as the Super Bowl will come your way regularly. But Greenlaw learned swiftly enough from the 49ers’ 2020 campaign that’s not the case. Only six games were won by San Francisco during that season of injuries.
Greenlaw recently said to team writer Lindsey Pallares, “I think we just struggled that year and struggled pretty bad.” “And just 2021, coming up short, NFC Championship, 2022, coming up short, you just started to realize you can’t take it for granted because you may not get the opportunity again.”
Trent Williams, Greenlaw’s teammate, joined the league in 2010. Playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday will be his first Super Bowl experience, demonstrating to the linebacker how hard it is to become the best in football.
Greenlaw is driven by this realization.
The defender answered, “Yeah, you just start studying a little bit harder.” “You just start doing all the little things and just appreciating every moment of it because, regardless, it’s our last week of football, so you just put, every moment, everything you got into making sure you just get the job done.”
The player Greenlaw was during the Super Bowl loss is not the same player he was now. He’s developed into one of the league’s most reputable linebackers.
Regarding his development, Greenlaw stated, “Just mentally, just understand the game better.” “I just need to understand my impact on the defense and how offenses like to attack our defense.” By realizing my strengths and abilities, then attempting to utilize them every Sunday and whenever I get the chance to play on the field.”
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said, “Greenlaw, he’s a dog,” in response to a question this week regarding the player. Every time we play against them, he never ceases to amaze me. I know I’ll be put in some circumstances for some one-on-one matchups versus him since he gets me quite a bit.”
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