Fred Warner hasn’t forgotten the San Francisco 49ers’ painful loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. The elite linebacker had a tough outing that day trying to contain Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce-two opponents he’ll face once again this Sunday when the 49ers host the Chiefs in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season.

After a shaky start this season, Travis Kelce seems to have put his early struggles behind him. The tight end faced significant challenges in the first three games but has since returned to top form.

Meanwhile, Mahomes has had to adapt on the fly, dealing with injuries to key wideouts Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown. Despite those setbacks, the reigning MVP has kept the Chiefs undefeated, setting the stage for a must-watch showdown in Santa Clara.

Warner on Mahomes and Kelce

In a recent episode of his podcast The Warner House, the linebacker discussed the difficulties of matching up against two of the NFL’s best.

When co-host and wife Sydney Hightower asked where Mahomes ranks among the quarterbacks Warner has faced, the typically reserved defender responded with a laugh, “He’s on there.” But Warner didn’t hesitate to admit the challenge the Chiefs’ QB presents.

“I’d have to say [Mahomes is] at the top, since I’ve yet to beat them,” Warner confessed.

When talking about Kelce, Warner didn’t mince words. “Big, elusive, savvy,” he said, identifying the unique challenges the tight end poses to any defense trying to slow him down.

The atmosphere at Levi’s Stadium

Warner expects Sunday’s matchup to have a “playoff atmosphere” but insisted it’s not about revenge for the Super Bowl loss. Instead he admited, “We’ll have the responsibility to give y’all something to cheer about.”

The stakes are high, and Warner knows all too well that to beat the Chiefs, both he and his teammates will need to play their best game yet.