It’s unclear whether Tom Brady didn’t see 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw, underestimated his athleticism or just made a bad throw, but Greenlaw on Tampa Bay’s first drive of the third quarter made a play. Brady’s throw was tipped in the air by a leaping Greenlaw who had the ball fall right back down into his hands for his first pick of the year and just the fourth interception off of Brady this season.
Greenlaw knew the gravity of the occasion and wanted to cherish being one of a small group of defenders ever to snag a pass off the future Hall of Famer. The 49ers LB held onto the football, but after the game wanted some icing on the cake.
As Brady chatted with 49ers LB Fred Warner at midfield, Greenlaw approached the QB and asked for his autograph – a moment caught on tape by the 49ers’ terrific social media team:
Class act ✍️ pic.twitter.com/sw7Egm9vYs
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 12, 2022
Greenlaw was just shy of his third birthday when Brady entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2000, and it’s fun seeing the clear reverence he and Warner have for the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
“He’s a good guy to be able to sign that ball after he threw them picks, that’s big time,” Greenlaw said in his post-game press conference. “I appreciate him. He’s the greatest. He’s the GOAT. So, I appreciate that.”
The 49ers defense got the better of Brady Sunday though with a 35-7 victory. Greenlaw and safety Tashaun Gipson both snagged INTs off Brady – part of a three turnover day for San Francisco’s No. 1 defense.
