LOCALS IN THE NFL
Troy Aikman, Aaron Rodgers Call 49ers’ Fred Warner Best Middle Linebacker In NFL
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – During and after the Packers vs. 49ers game in Week 9, Troy Aikman and Aaron Rodgers praised former BYU and current Niners linebacker Fred Warner as the best middle linebacker in the NFL.
Rodgers and the Packers defeated Warner and the 49ers 34-17 on Thursday, November 5.
During the game, Aikman, a legendary NFL quarterback turned color commentator, called Warner the best middle linebacker he’s seen in the league this season.
“He’s having an All-Pro season,” Aikman told play-by-play announcer Joe Buck during the game’s television broadcast. “I know Robert Saleh [49ers defensive coordinator] he’s biased but he’ll tell you he’s the best middle linebacker in all football. We haven’t seen everybody Joe but I will tell you this, what I’ve seen of the middle linebackers in our league this year, he has been the best that I’ve seen, and he makes a great play there to lose yardage.”
Wow…high praise for Fred Warner from @buck and @TroyAikman pic.twitter.com/OJq25g70oi
— Brandon Stone (@BStoneKUSI) November 6, 2020
After the game FOX’s Erin Andrews had a postgame interview with Rodgers, who also praised Warner and the 49ers’ performance despite losing the game.
“They still have possibly the best middle linebacker in the game,” Rodgers said.
“They still have possibly the best middle linebacker in the game.” – Aaron Rodgers praises @49ers linebacker @fred_warner during his postgame comments. #LocalsInTheNFL #YACPodcast #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #FTTB @kslsports
— Kyle Ireland 😷 (@kyleireland) November 6, 2020
In late October, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current NFL color commentator Tony Romo called Warner the best linebacker in the NFL.
“He (Warner) does so many things at a high level…that’s the best linebacker in ball right there,” Romo said during a broadcast of the Niners.
"He does so many things at a high level…that's the best linebacker in ball right there." – @tonyromo on @fred_warner#NFL #GoCougs #BYUFootball https://t.co/TOdwuOnY1N
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 26, 2020
Through nine games this season, the former BYU linebacker has recorded 74 total tackles, 48 solo tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions.
Warner and the 49ers have suffered injuries in 2020 and currently own a 4-5 record on the season.
San Francisco’s next game is against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, November 15 at 2:25 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on FOX.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).