Dre Greenlaw celebrates in front of Sean Payton as 49ers beat Broncos 24-14

The 49ers linebacker had to be held back by Fred Warner after celebrating in front of the Denver coach following San Francisco's 24-14 win over the team that released him.

The San Francisco 49ers stayed perfect on Sunday with a 24-14 victory over the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium in Week 4. The win moved San Francisco to 4-0, and it carried particular meaning for linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who spent last year in Denver and was lining up against the organization that released him this offseason.

The most dramatic moment arrived after the final whistle. According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Greenlaw celebrated directly in front of Broncos head coach Sean Payton and had to be held back by teammate Fred Warner. The exchange was captured on video and circulated widely on social media. Meirov reported that Greenlaw made it clear the game against his former team was personal.

Greenlaw's exit from Denver was recent and, by his own account, painful. The Broncos released the 29-year-old linebacker in the offseason after only one year with the organization, a decision that opened the door for a reunion with San Francisco, the franchise he had called home before his move to the AFC West club.

Greenlaw grew angry with Payton in the wake of his release, claiming he felt disrespected by the veteran head coach. The friction between the two lingered into the regular season, and Sunday's matchup gave Greenlaw his first opportunity to face Payton since the split. The history between them turned an otherwise routine early-season game into something far more charged.

His one year in Denver never gained much traction. A hamstring injury and a suspension combined to limit him to eight games in a Broncos uniform, an abbreviated stint that preceded the organization's offseason decision to part ways with him.

He answered the storyline with his play in the rematch. Greenlaw finished with a team-high 12 tackles against his former club, topping every other San Francisco player and helping a defense that kept Denver in check for much of the afternoon.

The celebration drew a divided response on social media. On the platform X, some users questioned how personal the game could really be given how little Greenlaw played in Denver, with one arguing he was hurt for much of last season, served a suspension and never fully absorbed the playbook. Others backed the linebacker, including a commenter who said the Broncos gave him a three-year contract and then cut him anyway. Another suggested Payton is not well liked by many of his former players, while more users urged Greenlaw to move past the episode.

San Francisco improved to 4-0 with the victory and now prepares for a road trip. The 49ers visit the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5, the next step in a season that has opened with four consecutive wins.