The San Francisco 49ers have a storied history at linebacker, as some of the best to ever play the position have donned the red and gold in their careers.

Hall of Famers Kevin Greene, Rickey Jackson, Dave Wilcox and Patrick Willis all spent time with the 49ers, with Willis the most recent to be inducted (2024) after playing all eight seasons of his NFL career with the team from 2007-14.

Willis was so good that he’s one of just 49 players to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame while playing fewer than 113 professional games. So, it’s clear that Willis knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the game, and interestingly, he took time on Thursday to give some incredibly high praise to the 49ers’ current linebacker room led by Fred Warner and Dee Winters.

“The 49ers have had some DOGS at linebacker over the years,” Willis wrote on social media. “To have one of the BEST in the game right now, lining up next to a backer who’s leveling up every snap… sheesh, that’s special!”

Warner, 28, has made four Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams in his first six years in the league and just tied Willis himself for the most forced fumbles in franchise history (16) on Sunday. Through two weeks, he’s on pace to set a career-high in tackles and should be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.

Winter, 24, was the 49ers’ sixth-round pick (No. 216 overall) in the 2023 NFL draft, and after taking on a starting job last year, many believed he might be moved back to a rotational role in 2025 with the team taking Nick Martin in the third round. However, Winters has looked like one of San Francisco’s best players through two weeks, recording 14 tackles.

Praise from any former NFL player means a lot, but praise coming from one of the best to ever do it? That’s another level.

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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Patrick Willis shares the highest praise for the 49ers’ LB room