Fred Warner was ‘jumping up & down’ when Javon Hargrave signed with the 49ers

When the San Francisco 49ers signed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave last month, the football landscape was in shock. The players included were surprised to see a playoff contender pay for an expensive, high-quality run-stopper.

Linebacker Fred Warner was one of those players, completely unaware that the front office would be making the splash signing. But shock turned into excitement, and Warner, much like the rest of the team, is thrilled to have Hargrave in the fold.

“Was probably at home, jumping up and down on my bed,” Fred Warner said with a smirk to the media Monday. “I had no idea, they kind of kept it pretty under wraps and when it came out that’s [a huge get]. I think he was probably the top free agent on the market, regardless of position. So he’s going to make a huge impact for our defense.”

Fred Warner is not not excited that Javon Hargrave is a new member of the #49ers. pic.twitter.com/gzx0VTOTz7

— Tracy Sandler (@49ersfangirl) April 24, 2023

Warner is also excited to begin the offseason program with new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

Wilks was hired to replace DeMeco Ryans in a seamless way, especially after San Francisco boasted the top defense in the nation last season. While it’s only the start of the offseason, all signs point to that happening, at least according to the team’s defensive captain.

“He fits right in, it’s been a seamless transition,” Warner stated.  “He’s come in and he’s taken a hold of everything, and we all respect the heck out of him already. The type of guy that he is, he genuinely cares about his players. It’s important to build relationships with us. And you know, we’re starting at ground zero again, everything we’ve done in the past is behind us. It’s a new year. A new opportunity. And I think that’s what’s exciting.”

What makes Fred even more excited though, is the potential to get even better each day. And given Wilks’ defensive pedigree, that could be in the cards for the 49ers and Warner.

“You know, that’s his job, making us the best defense and continuing to raise the bar. And I know he has high expectations for us. Just a super humble guy, ready to get to work, and we’re all feeding off of that same exact energy,” Warner stated.

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