Born November 19, 1996, in San Marcos, California, Federico Anthony Warner grew up in a diverse household—Mexican American from his mother Laura's side and African and Panamanian from his father Fred's side. Raised by his single mother alongside two siblings after his parents separated when he was a toddler, Warner credits football with providing structure and community during his formative years. At Mission Hills High School, he became a starter his junior year and earned All-San Diego Section Defensive Player of the Year honors, catching the attention of BYU coaches through a fellow church member who sent his highlight reel to recruiters.
Warner played at BYU from 2014 to 2017, developing into a three-year starter who recorded 264 total tackles and seven interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns that tied him for second in school history among linebackers with Kyle Van Noy. His impressive Senior Bowl performance in January 2018 elevated his draft stock, leading the San Francisco 49ers to select him in the third round with the seventieth overall pick.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan immediately named Warner the starting middle linebacker for his rookie season. Warner's exceptional combination of elite coverage skills, sideline-to-sideline speed, and football intelligence transformed the 49ers' defense. November 10, 2019, showcased his versatility when he recorded ten tackles, sacked Russell Wilson twice, and forced a fumble recovered by teammate DeForest Buckner for a…