September 26, 2025 • 17 mins
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters joined “You’ve Got Mail” presented by Delta Dental to talk locker room friendships, off-day hobbies, his "cold" takes and answers fan questions.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
What's that, faithful. This is your forty nine Ers team
reporter Brionna Janelle and today on You've Got Mail, my
special guest is linebacker d Winters. D. Welcome to the podcast.
How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I'm doing good. How are you doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Super excited looking forward to this Sunday against Jacksonville. How
are you feeling leading into Sunday?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I feel pretty good and I feel like our preparation
has been in the right spot, and you know, Sala
has been doing a great job of you know, putting
the scheme down for us, and you know, we're all
confident in what he's doing for us.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So very excited.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Awesome. Well, let's learn more about you today. D. You're
from a small town. I've heard I think it was
just what two hundred.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
And fifty people get that.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Yeah, what's like growing up in a place that's small.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Honestly, it's it's kind of fun because you know everybody. Honestly,
from kindergarten to twelfth grade, I knew every kid in
the school and it was just great just being able to,
you know, have this with this small community and every
day you're doing something with somebody that you really love
because just like family, So just growing up and burdening it.
It made me who I am today, and you know,
(01:08):
I'm thinkingful everything that they've taught me.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, what are some of your favorite childhood memories?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Man?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Honestly, a lot of people don't notice, but I used
to like ride horses. So actually, me and my neighbor
he would come over to my house and we'd ride
my horses and just ride until we have to be
back home or whatnot. But those are probably some of
the most memories I've had.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
How old are you when you're starting to ride horses?
Because that actually sounds kind of scary sometimes.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I think I was like seven or eight, that's when
it really started. And then when I got like twelve,
I just wanted to do it all the time, Like
that's all I could think about football and ride horses.
And so just growing up in a small community that
I did, that's what everybody else did, so it felt
like home and it felt normal. So being able to
relate to, you know, people in your community that are
also doing the same thing, it just made me feel
(01:54):
at home.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And that's what I love about burning.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Did you have a horse like your own horse?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
About that? Five horses do you remember all their names
and everything?
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Show Tom the General, Wild Bill Diamond, and then we
had Panther.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Wow, who was your favorite out of the the Okay,
that's like saying it was your favorite child exactly. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
How cool.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Well, speaking more about football, I heard about growing up
in a small town that you also played on a
really small football team. Then you mostly played offense. Tell
me about, you know, some of your early football memories
and what your favorite time was like playing in Texas.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I feel like just my whole high school career, I
felt like that was just a dream come true for me,
being able to play offense and be a receiver. That's
all I jumped about, Like that's all I want to do,
and so get an opportunity, especially in Texas to do that.
I was like, I'm just gonna take my chance and
run with it. So as far as high school memories,
I think, like I said, every year in my high
(02:58):
school career, I mean we went to the semi almost
every year except my freshman year and then yeah, that was.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Pretty much it.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Who are some of the like NFL stars that you
looked up to when you were playing football in Texas
as a wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yeah, cam Newton was probably the main one, honestly, and
that's just because where I grew up. He actually went
to juco there at Blenne College. So seeing him do
what he did in junior college level and then doing
it in the SEC at Auburn, I was like, yeah,
he's nice. So I always looked up to him, and
then right Lewis of course and all those guys.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So yeah, because eventually you made this switch over to defense.
So what was that transition like in college? And then
who are some other guys that you were watching to
really get you motivated to play the defensive side of
the ball.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, the transition was, honest it was hard for me. Like,
like I told you, I dreamed about being a receiver
from the time I started playing football, and whenever I
got to college and we had an opportunity a spot
open for me to play linebacker. My coach came up
to mec Gary Patterson and he was like, you know,
we got this spot open for you. You're freshman, You're
probably not gonna play, but here's an opportunity if you
(04:04):
want to try.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And I'm like, well, I want to play, So he
threw me in there.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I was about one to eighty five getting talked around,
but then kind of put on a little bit away
and things started changing for me, and it was you know,
money after that.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
To be honest, Yeah, it's really cool to hear how
you know, Cam new Inn that he played Juko in
your area, and hearing also that your college coach was like, hey,
here's an opportunity for you. When did it click for
you where you knew that football is what you could
do and what you could do for your career.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Yeah, Whenever I made that transition in college, honestly, I
was kind of lost, like, this is my first time
playing linebacker. I didn't mind hitting people, so that wasn't
an issue on you know, going to defense, but it
was just all right, how do I think as a
defensive player now? And so I think that was the
mindset and the change of position kind of just it
(04:56):
was everywhere. But once I got to like my junior
year and I kind of started identifying things that offenses
love to do on certain downs, I think that's when
I was like, all right, I can actually do this.
And so I'm very grateful for Coach p and what
he's done in my life, and I can't thank him enough.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah, it's really cool. And now you found yourself here
at the San Francisco forty nine ers and you made
it to this super Bowl in your rookie year. How
does that, you know, influence your perspective on the league
and impact your growth now entering you know you're a
veteran here on this team.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, honestly, I thought the NFL was pretty easy. Might
come in my rookie year and I'm like, we go
to the super Bowl the first year. It's pretty crazy,
very good. But it just taught me, you know, to
cherish every moment, like every season is a new season,
every year is a new team. So just going out
there and put my best pok forward and you know,
helping the team out now that I am going into
(05:45):
year three, just doing everything that I possibly can, so,
you know, help contribute to this team and you know,
put my best before.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Like I said, yeah, well, looking back, what have you
learned most from your rookie season? If you could go
back and talk to rookie year winters, what would you
tell him?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Honestly, I'll probably tell him to study more. I think
there's not like we have a lot of time outside
of football, even though we're here most of the day.
I think just doing things outside of work, you know.
I think that's a huge priorty that I have in
my life now, is studying and I feel like that's
helped contribute and then showing on and off the field.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
So yeah, I mean, what's this forty nine ers locker
room like now in the twenty twenty five season. What
are the vibes? Who do you spend the most time with?
Who do you connect with? I'm sure the linebackers who
are the homies in the locker room.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
All the lbs, But lately I've been kind of close
with Junior, Bergen and Michel and you know, a bunch.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Of the rookie you mentioned also, like Junior and mikel.
Have they gone to you for advice or is it
also friendship? Tell me what your good dynamic is like
with some of the younger guys in the group.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Oh no, they haven't come to me for an advice.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
We've just been chopping it up, just asking, you know,
how he's doing, how I'm doing, where are you from?
You know, just a basic conversation starters. And I think
now that they're kind of loosing enough now they're starting
to show their personalities, and I think that's a good
thing when you can be yourself, especially in this environment.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And so, yeah, how would you describe mikel was?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It was tough to describe. Honestly.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I think he's chilling, laid back off the field. You know,
on the field, he's a different person. I can tell
you that.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
So I've seen that.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
It's pretty crazy. Now, speaking of that locker room dynamic,
obviously the linebackers, you and Fred I mean, a dynamic
duo so far this season. And of course all the
fans are trying to find nicknames for y'all. Don't know
if you've seen online, but I've seen like five nights
at fred Dese and Winter Warning. Have any nicknames stood
out to you or have you guys made a nickname
(07:44):
for yourselves yet?
Speaker 3 (07:45):
No, we haven't made any nicknames. I actually saw those posts.
Some of them, I don't even know where they're from.
Like I hear this winters is coming, and I heard
friends here the other day. I'm like, what is he talking.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
About Winter Warning?
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Feet a little bit of warn, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
I guess. I'm like, what is he talking about? Out?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
But I'm starting to catch on a little bit. Okay,
I'm gonna go back to them and try to find
my best one.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, yeah, Winter Warning, I think is like the winner,
so fear right now. I think I think that's pretty cool, perfect, awesome.
Now we're gonna do a fun little segment, play a
little game, and it's called That's Cold with de Winters
given your last name, So I'll give you a few prompts.
You'll just tell me that's cold if you're into it,
or nah, that's not so cold if you're not going
into it, and tell us all right, first we'll start
(08:26):
with Crocs and fell just signed a deal with Crocs
and they've got new niners Crocks, how are you feeling
on it? It's cold or not so cold?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
That's not cold, that's not cool. It ain't got enough
cushion for me. I need like some of that's a
little cushiony like Birk's the furry con.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah. But other than that, nah, all right, rock.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Next one, rocking full designer when traveling on the team plane.
But then, what's your go to travel fit?
Speaker 3 (08:53):
I'm going Lulu liman little wind breaker pants and it's
like a little suit and I'm going like some all
black Track, Wi Scots or something.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
It's simple cool, like, yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Something simple but still shows that you're put together, right,
I like it all right. Nineties fashion making a comeback.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
I love it. Oh that's cold. Cold, that's cold.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
But what are some of like nineties gear that you'd
wear now?
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Honestly, I've just seen other people doing it, like on
traveling and stuff like that. They're kind of bringing back
the baggy pants and stuff like that. Tims obviously was
huge in the nineties, so just seeing people correlate that
until their fits now is like, all right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
I'll rock with that.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yeah, that's called awesome celebrations after big plays. That's cold,
that's called do you have a celebration?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
No, I've been trying to come up with one.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Okay, I've been trying to find I saw some like
the Winter Soldier or something, and I've been trying to
find like one of his like like scenature moves, and
I cannot find him whatsoever. But it's like a arm
that he has. But I need to figure out something.
But we're gonna get it going.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
When you were watching football growing up, were there any
celebrations that you really looked up to as.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I like the Ray Lewis one, like a little bit
I can I cannot dance, but like I saw him,
I'm like, that's good. Yeah, Brian Dawkins, the boats is
growing up obviously.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, that's about it.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Yeah, that's cold, all right, country music. You're from Texas,
that's cold.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
That's mandatory, that's cold.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Who are some of your favorite country artists.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Luke Holmes. I like Cody Johnson right now. I'm a
big fan of Morgan walland I like Billy Carrington.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Obviously. You gotta go with the great George straight thin.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
No, you're good.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Good.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Did you go to the Morgan wall In concert here, Levice?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
I did?
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Was that fun?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
It was really fun?
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, it was really cool to see, like Levi Stadium
really turned into like a country music party.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I didn't think they listened to the country out here.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
I know every time I play country, they look at
me crazy, and I'm like, what you like?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Just what we own?
Speaker 1 (10:53):
All of a sudden, Morgan Walling comes to town. Everyone
is a country exactly.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
They got their boots on, they had It's like, I.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Feel like that's also coming back to style. I think,
like the country music style with the boots and the hat.
I feel like that's now in the fashion scenes for sure.
That's pretty cool. Awesome streamers or just streaming in general,
that's colder.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
That's cold.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
I've seen a few trips where Reggie was one of
them obviously and then caught sinnat, but I think that's
pretty cold.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Yeah, that's a whole new wave. I feel like the
kids nowadays. There No, it's no longer just YouTube or
even like just TV. It's like full on live streaming,
which is pretty crazy awesome. So now we're going to
move on to some fan questions. We posted a story
up on Instagram and the faithful took to Instagram to
ask you questions. So these are questions directly from the faithful.
The first one says, what hobby or activity would you
(11:40):
be interested in if you had more free time?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Golf?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Golf are a golfer.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
I got into it in February.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I had the bug pretty bad this offseason, But if
I had enough time, I'd be golfing.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
That's so cool. Who took you out, like to the
greens for the first time.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Curtis Robinson, Brock and George Actually.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Okay cool, Yeah, I saw George and Kyle yus check
over at the Tahoe golf event, which is insane. Would
you ever do something like that, like a celebrity golf tournament?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Nah, I can't.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Gallery can't be around me at this time. I needed
probably like a year or two uneath my belt before
I get to having people watch me.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
So that's valid because it's a huge event, like fans
are lining up all around the.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
W Yeah, y'all pretty brave for that. All can go
anywhere with me.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
So seriously, it's like on TV and everything. All right. Cool.
What's been your biggest learning experience in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
I think, honestly just honing in on everything that I
possibly can. You know, whether that be film, nutrition, recovery.
I think the importance of recovery is way more impactful
to your performance. I didn't really understand that. I had
to kind of figure it out on my own and
then ask questions. So just being able to have that
(12:50):
knowledge now and kind of use a routine every day
and you know, prepare like every day is my last.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
So I think that's just been helpful.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Yeah, what goes into recovery because for there a lot
of the people who aren't inside the NFL or don't
know what it takes to go out on Sunday and
to perform your best. They hear recovering and they think, okay,
like maybe it's a little acupuncture. It's a little massage,
Like tell me actually the details of everything you need
to do to make sure you're good to even just
show up to practice the next day.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Yeah, it's massage, acupuncture, contrasting red light and high drating
number one and just making sure you're getting all your
protein and eating all your meals and stand on top
of it.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
It's really a full time job. No, it is awesome. Now,
speaking of eating all time favorite food, I.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Gotta go Cajun pasta.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
I just feel like you can't. I mean, you can
mess it up, but like I feel like that's essential.
Like if I can get like a chicken, shrimp Cajun
pasta or something like that, that's my goat you every time.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
It's also reliable. Like if you go to a restaurant
you've never really been there before they have cajun pasta,
it has to speak it.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
It has to be or you can make it good.
Throw some chili flakes on there, you know, all the
good stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
So we're good.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah, Have you found the best Cajun pasta here in
the Bay I haven't, or do you maybe make it yourself?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
I made it my last night last night.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Are you a chef? Like, are you good in the kitchen?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
I'm not so.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Your one meal is maybe just caging pasta. Okay, that's
it your specialty. I love it. What is your favorite
Bay Area restaurant so far? That was the next question here.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah, I kind of got too now. I just tried them.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I try a Pacific Catch and I try a Luna's Kitchen.
It's like asking place those are both are like loved
everything that they had, from the food obviously to the dessert,
like it was everything was just good that day or
so maybe I was just hungry out, but yeah, Pacific Catching.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Lunas at Luna's, what do you order?
Speaker 3 (14:37):
I got the fajitas and I got the little fundido
on the side, and I was like, all right, yeah,
this might be my new go to spot.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah, no, that's fire. It's one of the best spots
out here in Santa I have been, and it's fun
because I could take all my friends too. I have
all the friends that are gluten free and so like
they have everything for everybody is gluten free. Shout out
to Bay Area gluten free for you can go to Luna's.
There's a lot of time, no options, but yeah, Luna's
is fire. Yeah. What does an ideal day off look
(15:06):
like for you? When you don't have to go into
the facility at all? Like it's a true off day?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Oh, I mean I still come in, I still hit
the little recovery stuff. Yeah, it outside and get some
someon go kick my feet up at the house, probably
play video games for like an hour or two, watching film,
and start getting on our next opponent.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Okay, so there is no such thing as a day off. No, Okay,
got it? Got it? De Winters is locked in. Okay,
last fan question here. It says, what was the moment
you realized you were better than everyone else on the field?
I mean, I feel like that's that's a pretty interesting question.
You're talking about the forty nine ers defense too, because
you're dealing with some all time greats, but even just
(15:47):
throughout your entire football career, from playing in Texas, going
to TCU, finding your way here to the forty nine ers,
what was that, like, I'm him moment?
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Honestly, the Fiesta Bowl. My last year in college, we
played in Arizona. We played against Michigan, and I just
I don't know what happened in that game. Something just
like flipped in me and I was just going crazy,
Like I had a pick six, I had like seven tackles,
like three for loss, and I'm like, dang, I just
did this in the playoffs, like I feel like I
(16:19):
can keep this up. Like so that's probably one of
the moments I felt like I was him, honestly.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
And then you have to hold on to that energy
as you make your way into the NFL. Most definitely,
what's been your Like I've made it a NFL moment.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
When I got here, I'm like this honestly, it's still
like kind of surreal for me, Like I come in,
I'm around the best, I learned from the best, and
I play with him, so it's like every day for me,
just I just feel like a kid, like I get
to come to work like football is my job.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Like so it's just been surreal, Like I.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Said, no, yeah, hearing you talk about that. What's it
like working with Fred Warner?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Dude is a beast, Like just the way he thinks
in processes things. I think that's what makes him the best,
and people don't see the side like where he's studying constantly,
where he's you know, trying to find you know, little
nuances within the offense that can you know that they
do that triggers him and he knows exactly what's coming.
I think that's what allows him to play fast. And
(17:15):
so honestly, playing with him helps me because he knows
what's coming. And I'm like, all right, I got one
hundred percent of faith. He knows what's going on, so
I'm gonna just do what he says. So just playing
with him is just allowing him to play a whole
lot faster. And you know, I've been very grateful, grateful
to have him for these past three years, and I'm
very excited to be playing.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Next to him.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Amazing. Well, d that's all our questions today. Is there
any message you'd like to share with the forty nine?
Is faithful as we close out?
Speaker 2 (17:38):
No, sadly, I can let's do some work.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
I've been faithful. Yes, be ready to see de Winters
this Sunday against the Jaguars. Do you thank you so
much for joining us on the podcast. Thank you
What's that, faithful. This is your forty nine Ers team
reporter Brionna Janelle and today on You've Got Mail, my
special guest is linebacker d Winters. D. Welcome to the podcast.
How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I'm doing good. How are you doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Super excited looking forward to this Sunday against Jacksonville. How
are you feeling leading into Sunday?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I feel pretty good and I feel like our preparation
has been in the right spot, and you know, Sala
has been doing a great job of you know, putting
the scheme down for us, and you know, we're all
confident in what he's doing for us.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So very excited.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Awesome. Well, let's learn more about you today. D. You're
from a small town. I've heard I think it was
just what two hundred.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
And fifty people get that.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Yeah, what's like growing up in a place that's small.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Honestly, it's it's kind of fun because you know everybody. Honestly,
from kindergarten to twelfth grade, I knew every kid in
the school and it was just great just being able to,
you know, have this with this small community and every
day you're doing something with somebody that you really love
because just like family, So just growing up and burdening it.
It made me who I am today, and you know,
(01:08):
I'm thinkingful everything that they've taught me.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, what are some of your favorite childhood memories?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Man?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Honestly, a lot of people don't notice, but I used
to like ride horses. So actually, me and my neighbor
he would come over to my house and we'd ride
my horses and just ride until we have to be
back home or whatnot. But those are probably some of
the most memories I've had.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
How old are you when you're starting to ride horses?
Because that actually sounds kind of scary sometimes.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I think I was like seven or eight, that's when
it really started. And then when I got like twelve,
I just wanted to do it all the time, Like
that's all I could think about football and ride horses.
And so just growing up in a small community that
I did, that's what everybody else did, so it felt
like home and it felt normal. So being able to
relate to, you know, people in your community that are
also doing the same thing, it just made me feel
(01:54):
at home.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And that's what I love about burning.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Did you have a horse like your own horse?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
About that? Five horses do you remember all their names
and everything?
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Show Tom the General, Wild Bill Diamond, and then we
had Panther.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Wow, who was your favorite out of the the Okay,
that's like saying it was your favorite child exactly. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
How cool.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Well, speaking more about football, I heard about growing up
in a small town that you also played on a
really small football team. Then you mostly played offense. Tell
me about, you know, some of your early football memories
and what your favorite time was like playing in Texas.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I feel like just my whole high school career, I
felt like that was just a dream come true for me,
being able to play offense and be a receiver. That's
all I jumped about, Like that's all I want to do,
and so get an opportunity, especially in Texas to do that.
I was like, I'm just gonna take my chance and
run with it. So as far as high school memories,
I think, like I said, every year in my high
(02:58):
school career, I mean we went to the semi almost
every year except my freshman year and then yeah, that was.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Pretty much it.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Who are some of the like NFL stars that you
looked up to when you were playing football in Texas
as a wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yeah, cam Newton was probably the main one, honestly, and
that's just because where I grew up. He actually went
to juco there at Blenne College. So seeing him do
what he did in junior college level and then doing
it in the SEC at Auburn, I was like, yeah,
he's nice. So I always looked up to him, and
then right Lewis of course and all those guys.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So yeah, because eventually you made this switch over to defense.
So what was that transition like in college? And then
who are some other guys that you were watching to
really get you motivated to play the defensive side of
the ball.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, the transition was, honest it was hard for me. Like,
like I told you, I dreamed about being a receiver
from the time I started playing football, and whenever I
got to college and we had an opportunity a spot
open for me to play linebacker. My coach came up
to mec Gary Patterson and he was like, you know,
we got this spot open for you. You're freshman, You're
probably not gonna play, but here's an opportunity if you
(04:04):
want to try.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And I'm like, well, I want to play, So he
threw me in there.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I was about one to eighty five getting talked around,
but then kind of put on a little bit away
and things started changing for me, and it was you know,
money after that.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
To be honest, Yeah, it's really cool to hear how
you know, Cam new Inn that he played Juko in
your area, and hearing also that your college coach was like, hey,
here's an opportunity for you. When did it click for
you where you knew that football is what you could
do and what you could do for your career.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Yeah, Whenever I made that transition in college, honestly, I
was kind of lost, like, this is my first time
playing linebacker. I didn't mind hitting people, so that wasn't
an issue on you know, going to defense, but it
was just all right, how do I think as a
defensive player now? And so I think that was the
mindset and the change of position kind of just it
(04:56):
was everywhere. But once I got to like my junior
year and I kind of started identifying things that offenses
love to do on certain downs, I think that's when
I was like, all right, I can actually do this.
And so I'm very grateful for Coach p and what
he's done in my life, and I can't thank him enough.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah, it's really cool. And now you found yourself here
at the San Francisco forty nine ers and you made
it to this super Bowl in your rookie year. How
does that, you know, influence your perspective on the league
and impact your growth now entering you know you're a
veteran here on this team.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, honestly, I thought the NFL was pretty easy. Might
come in my rookie year and I'm like, we go
to the super Bowl the first year. It's pretty crazy,
very good. But it just taught me, you know, to
cherish every moment, like every season is a new season,
every year is a new team. So just going out
there and put my best pok forward and you know,
helping the team out now that I am going into
(05:45):
year three, just doing everything that I possibly can, so,
you know, help contribute to this team and you know,
put my best before.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Like I said, yeah, well, looking back, what have you
learned most from your rookie season? If you could go
back and talk to rookie year winters, what would you
tell him?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Honestly, I'll probably tell him to study more. I think
there's not like we have a lot of time outside
of football, even though we're here most of the day.
I think just doing things outside of work, you know.
I think that's a huge priorty that I have in
my life now, is studying and I feel like that's
helped contribute and then showing on and off the field.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
So yeah, I mean, what's this forty nine ers locker
room like now in the twenty twenty five season. What
are the vibes? Who do you spend the most time with?
Who do you connect with? I'm sure the linebackers who
are the homies in the locker room.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
All the lbs, But lately I've been kind of close
with Junior, Bergen and Michel and you know, a bunch.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Of the rookie you mentioned also, like Junior and mikel.
Have they gone to you for advice or is it
also friendship? Tell me what your good dynamic is like
with some of the younger guys in the group.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Oh no, they haven't come to me for an advice.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
We've just been chopping it up, just asking, you know,
how he's doing, how I'm doing, where are you from?
You know, just a basic conversation starters. And I think
now that they're kind of loosing enough now they're starting
to show their personalities, and I think that's a good
thing when you can be yourself, especially in this environment.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And so, yeah, how would you describe mikel was?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It was tough to describe. Honestly.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I think he's chilling, laid back off the field. You know,
on the field, he's a different person. I can tell
you that.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
So I've seen that.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
It's pretty crazy. Now, speaking of that locker room dynamic,
obviously the linebackers, you and Fred I mean, a dynamic
duo so far this season. And of course all the
fans are trying to find nicknames for y'all. Don't know
if you've seen online, but I've seen like five nights
at fred Dese and Winter Warning. Have any nicknames stood
out to you or have you guys made a nickname
(07:44):
for yourselves yet?
Speaker 3 (07:45):
No, we haven't made any nicknames. I actually saw those posts.
Some of them, I don't even know where they're from.
Like I hear this winters is coming, and I heard
friends here the other day. I'm like, what is he talking.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
About Winter Warning?
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Feet a little bit of warn, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
I guess. I'm like, what is he talking about? Out?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
But I'm starting to catch on a little bit. Okay,
I'm gonna go back to them and try to find
my best one.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, yeah, Winter Warning, I think is like the winner,
so fear right now. I think I think that's pretty cool, perfect, awesome.
Now we're gonna do a fun little segment, play a
little game, and it's called That's Cold with de Winters
given your last name, So I'll give you a few prompts.
You'll just tell me that's cold if you're into it,
or nah, that's not so cold if you're not going
into it, and tell us all right, first we'll start
(08:26):
with Crocs and fell just signed a deal with Crocs
and they've got new niners Crocks, how are you feeling
on it? It's cold or not so cold?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
That's not cold, that's not cool. It ain't got enough
cushion for me. I need like some of that's a
little cushiony like Birk's the furry con.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah. But other than that, nah, all right, rock.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Next one, rocking full designer when traveling on the team plane.
But then, what's your go to travel fit?
Speaker 3 (08:53):
I'm going Lulu liman little wind breaker pants and it's
like a little suit and I'm going like some all
black Track, Wi Scots or something.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
It's simple cool, like, yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Something simple but still shows that you're put together, right,
I like it all right. Nineties fashion making a comeback.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
I love it. Oh that's cold. Cold, that's cold.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
But what are some of like nineties gear that you'd
wear now?
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Honestly, I've just seen other people doing it, like on
traveling and stuff like that. They're kind of bringing back
the baggy pants and stuff like that. Tims obviously was
huge in the nineties, so just seeing people correlate that
until their fits now is like, all right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
I'll rock with that.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yeah, that's called awesome celebrations after big plays. That's cold,
that's called do you have a celebration?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
No, I've been trying to come up with one.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Okay, I've been trying to find I saw some like
the Winter Soldier or something, and I've been trying to
find like one of his like like scenature moves, and
I cannot find him whatsoever. But it's like a arm
that he has. But I need to figure out something.
But we're gonna get it going.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
When you were watching football growing up, were there any
celebrations that you really looked up to as.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I like the Ray Lewis one, like a little bit
I can I cannot dance, but like I saw him,
I'm like, that's good. Yeah, Brian Dawkins, the boats is
growing up obviously.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, that's about it.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Yeah, that's cold, all right, country music. You're from Texas,
that's cold.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
That's mandatory, that's cold.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Who are some of your favorite country artists.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Luke Holmes. I like Cody Johnson right now. I'm a
big fan of Morgan walland I like Billy Carrington.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Obviously. You gotta go with the great George straight thin.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
No, you're good.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Good.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Did you go to the Morgan wall In concert here, Levice?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
I did?
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Was that fun?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
It was really fun?
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, it was really cool to see, like Levi Stadium
really turned into like a country music party.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I didn't think they listened to the country out here.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
I know every time I play country, they look at
me crazy, and I'm like, what you like?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Just what we own?
Speaker 1 (10:53):
All of a sudden, Morgan Walling comes to town. Everyone
is a country exactly.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
They got their boots on, they had It's like, I.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Feel like that's also coming back to style. I think,
like the country music style with the boots and the hat.
I feel like that's now in the fashion scenes for sure.
That's pretty cool. Awesome streamers or just streaming in general,
that's colder.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
That's cold.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
I've seen a few trips where Reggie was one of
them obviously and then caught sinnat, but I think that's
pretty cold.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Yeah, that's a whole new wave. I feel like the
kids nowadays. There No, it's no longer just YouTube or
even like just TV. It's like full on live streaming,
which is pretty crazy awesome. So now we're going to
move on to some fan questions. We posted a story
up on Instagram and the faithful took to Instagram to
ask you questions. So these are questions directly from the faithful.
The first one says, what hobby or activity would you
(11:40):
be interested in if you had more free time?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Golf?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Golf are a golfer.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
I got into it in February.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I had the bug pretty bad this offseason, But if
I had enough time, I'd be golfing.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
That's so cool. Who took you out, like to the
greens for the first time.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Curtis Robinson, Brock and George Actually.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Okay cool, Yeah, I saw George and Kyle yus check
over at the Tahoe golf event, which is insane. Would
you ever do something like that, like a celebrity golf tournament?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Nah, I can't.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Gallery can't be around me at this time. I needed
probably like a year or two uneath my belt before
I get to having people watch me.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
So that's valid because it's a huge event, like fans
are lining up all around the.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
W Yeah, y'all pretty brave for that. All can go
anywhere with me.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
So seriously, it's like on TV and everything. All right. Cool.
What's been your biggest learning experience in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
I think, honestly just honing in on everything that I
possibly can. You know, whether that be film, nutrition, recovery.
I think the importance of recovery is way more impactful
to your performance. I didn't really understand that. I had
to kind of figure it out on my own and
then ask questions. So just being able to have that
(12:50):
knowledge now and kind of use a routine every day
and you know, prepare like every day is my last.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
So I think that's just been helpful.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Yeah, what goes into recovery because for there a lot
of the people who aren't inside the NFL or don't
know what it takes to go out on Sunday and
to perform your best. They hear recovering and they think, okay,
like maybe it's a little acupuncture. It's a little massage,
Like tell me actually the details of everything you need
to do to make sure you're good to even just
show up to practice the next day.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Yeah, it's massage, acupuncture, contrasting red light and high drating
number one and just making sure you're getting all your
protein and eating all your meals and stand on top
of it.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
It's really a full time job. No, it is awesome. Now,
speaking of eating all time favorite food, I.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Gotta go Cajun pasta.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
I just feel like you can't. I mean, you can
mess it up, but like I feel like that's essential.
Like if I can get like a chicken, shrimp Cajun
pasta or something like that, that's my goat you every time.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
It's also reliable. Like if you go to a restaurant
you've never really been there before they have cajun pasta,
it has to speak it.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
It has to be or you can make it good.
Throw some chili flakes on there, you know, all the
good stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
So we're good.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah, Have you found the best Cajun pasta here in
the Bay I haven't, or do you maybe make it yourself?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
I made it my last night last night.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Are you a chef? Like, are you good in the kitchen?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
I'm not so.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Your one meal is maybe just caging pasta. Okay, that's
it your specialty. I love it. What is your favorite
Bay Area restaurant so far? That was the next question here.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah, I kind of got too now. I just tried them.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I try a Pacific Catch and I try a Luna's Kitchen.
It's like asking place those are both are like loved
everything that they had, from the food obviously to the dessert,
like it was everything was just good that day or
so maybe I was just hungry out, but yeah, Pacific Catching.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Lunas at Luna's, what do you order?
Speaker 3 (14:37):
I got the fajitas and I got the little fundido
on the side, and I was like, all right, yeah,
this might be my new go to spot.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah, no, that's fire. It's one of the best spots
out here in Santa I have been, and it's fun
because I could take all my friends too. I have
all the friends that are gluten free and so like
they have everything for everybody is gluten free. Shout out
to Bay Area gluten free for you can go to Luna's.
There's a lot of time, no options, but yeah, Luna's
is fire. Yeah. What does an ideal day off look
(15:06):
like for you? When you don't have to go into
the facility at all? Like it's a true off day?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Oh, I mean I still come in, I still hit
the little recovery stuff. Yeah, it outside and get some
someon go kick my feet up at the house, probably
play video games for like an hour or two, watching film,
and start getting on our next opponent.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Okay, so there is no such thing as a day off. No, Okay,
got it? Got it? De Winters is locked in. Okay,
last fan question here. It says, what was the moment
you realized you were better than everyone else on the field?
I mean, I feel like that's that's a pretty interesting question.
You're talking about the forty nine ers defense too, because
you're dealing with some all time greats, but even just
(15:47):
throughout your entire football career, from playing in Texas, going
to TCU, finding your way here to the forty nine ers,
what was that, like, I'm him moment?
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Honestly, the Fiesta Bowl. My last year in college, we
played in Arizona. We played against Michigan, and I just
I don't know what happened in that game. Something just
like flipped in me and I was just going crazy,
Like I had a pick six, I had like seven tackles,
like three for loss, and I'm like, dang, I just
did this in the playoffs, like I feel like I
(16:19):
can keep this up. Like so that's probably one of
the moments I felt like I was him, honestly.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
And then you have to hold on to that energy
as you make your way into the NFL. Most definitely,
what's been your Like I've made it a NFL moment.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
When I got here, I'm like this honestly, it's still
like kind of surreal for me, Like I come in,
I'm around the best, I learned from the best, and
I play with him, so it's like every day for me,
just I just feel like a kid, like I get
to come to work like football is my job.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Like so it's just been surreal, Like I.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Said, no, yeah, hearing you talk about that. What's it
like working with Fred Warner?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Dude is a beast, Like just the way he thinks
in processes things. I think that's what makes him the best,
and people don't see the side like where he's studying constantly,
where he's you know, trying to find you know, little
nuances within the offense that can you know that they
do that triggers him and he knows exactly what's coming.
I think that's what allows him to play fast. And
(17:15):
so honestly, playing with him helps me because he knows
what's coming. And I'm like, all right, I got one
hundred percent of faith. He knows what's going on, so
I'm gonna just do what he says. So just playing
with him is just allowing him to play a whole
lot faster. And you know, I've been very grateful, grateful
to have him for these past three years, and I'm
very excited to be playing.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Next to him.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Amazing. Well, d that's all our questions today. Is there
any message you'd like to share with the forty nine?
Is faithful as we close out?
Speaker 2 (17:38):
No, sadly, I can let's do some work.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
I've been faithful. Yes, be ready to see de Winters
this Sunday against the Jaguars. Do you thank you so
much for joining us on the podcast. Thank you
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