Whitner views Warner as NFL DPOY favorite after ‘trifecta' vs. Cowboys

Whitner views Warner as NFL DPOY favorite after ‘trifecta' vs. Cowboys originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Could the 49ers have two NFL Defensive Player of the Year award winners on the team next season?

Donte Whitner certainly thinks so.

The former 49ers safety and current NBC Sports Bay Area analyst believes linebacker Fred Warner has cemented himself as the 2023 NFL DPOY front-runner after his prime-time showing against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night at Levi's Stadium.

"[Warner] had eight tackles and a trifecta -- an interception, a forced fumble and a huge sack on Dak Prescott," Whitner said in the latest "Hitner's Hot Take" segment. "If he can win the award, he and Nick Bosa become the first [DPOY] teammates in over 20 years since Ed Reed and Ray Lewis did it for the Baltimore Ravens.

"In order for Fred Warner to capture the award, Fred is going to have to finish the season strong. The 49ers' defense must remain in the top five in points against and yards, and he must continue to make game-changing plays on a weekly basis."

Warner, a two-time All-Pro, is no stranger to awards. But to join defensive end Nick Bosa as a fellow DPOY certainly would be a welcome accolade for the 26-year-old, who already is viewed by many as the NFL's premier linebacker. His partner in crime Dre Greenlaw gave him a shout-out after the game on "49ers Postgame Live," agreeing that Warner should be the front-runner.

For now, Warner is focused on leaving it all out on the field.

“If they put me in the conversation, great,” Warner said Sunday. “To me, I know what I have to contribute to this team. I know the caliber of player I am, and I don’t need anyone else’s recognition or people to tell me how great I am.”

Only time will tell if Warner earns the honor. But it's clear Whitner and others believe he's on the right track.

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