If there’s anyone in the NFL who knows just how good 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is, it’s New York Jets coach Robert Saleh.
It’s Saleh’s knowledge of Warner that led the former 49ers defensive coordinator to heap the highest-possible praise on his old pupil while talking to the New York media on Friday.
Asked by a reporter about what he saw on the film in relation to Warner breaking up potential big plays in the 49ers’ 32-19 Week 1 win over the Jets, Saleh made it clear the All-Pro linebacker is headed to Canton, Ohio, when his playing career is over.
“Fred is … I’ll go ahead and say it,” Saleh said (h/t Pro Football Talk). “The guy is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and … I don’t know if a lot of people recognize that, but … at times during the game, it felt like there were three of him out there, the way he was running …