49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles in a freak injury while running onto the field during the Super Bowl, and thanks to “Inside the NFL,” we can see the massive effect it had on his 49ers teammates.
“Did Dre just get hurt running out on the field?” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan asked with anguish in his voice, seemingly unable to comprehend what he had just seen.
Greenlaw’s right Achilles popped when running onto the field after a second quarter punt by the 49ers.
It is unclear if it is related, but Greenlaw battled Achilles tendonitis in Week 18 and throughout the playoffs.
“No!” linebacker Fred Warner yelled as Greenlaw went down screaming.
Warner knew that the Achilles may be problematic for Greenlaw.
“I was sick to my stomach,” Warner said after the game. “I’m still sick. I seen him at halftime and I’m just, I’m crying because I’m so hurt for him. And, obviously, I wanted to win this for him. Sickening.
“He’s just been dealing with that same Achilles injury for the last few weeks. So when we ran out on the field together and I see him drop down, I knew exactly what happened.”
Later in the game, once the worst fears of the injury were realized, tight end George Kittle asked his teammates: “Did Dre really tear his Achilles?”
“Yeah, they just said,” a teammate responded.
“That’s depressing,” a dejected Kittle responded.
A tough pill to swallow was also met with shock from the Chiefs side, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes immediately noticed the injury.
“Fifth-seven got hurt. Fifty-Seven just got hurt over there,” Mahomes, referencing Greenlaw’s number, told players and coaches on the sideline, who immediately stopped talking to look.
Greenlaw, the team’s second-leading tackler and referred to as the “motor of the defense” by cornerback Chavarius Ward, was lost for the rest of the game.
His injury clearly affected the 49ers the remainder of the game.
The Chiefs ultimately scored all of their points after Greenlaw exited, as they were shut out through most of the second quarter.
His absence also factored into Travis Kelce burning the 49ers in the second half and overtime.
Greenlaw played seven snaps in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, and Kelce had just one catch for one yard while Greenlaw roamed the field.
Without Greenlaw covering him, Kelce went on to lead the game with 93 receiving yards on nine catches.
Kansas City’s thrilling overtime victory could’ve had a different result had Greenlaw stayed healthy, and this injury will be one of the many “what-ifs” of the 49ers story.