Santa Clara, CA — If you’re hunting for the moment Tatum Bethune arrived, circle October 19, 2025. On a night the 49ers beat the Falcons 20–10, Bethune — a 2024 seventh-round pick, No. 251 overall out of Florida State — slid into Fred Warner’s job, strapped on the green dot, and made the defense sound like the defense again.
Atlanta didn’t come in soft. Bijan Robinson entered the game averaging 87.3 rushing yards per game and ranking among the league’s top five rushers. Yet Bethune and the 49ers’ defense held him to just 40 yards on 14 carries (2.9 per) and limited the entire Falcons run game to 62 rushing yards. That kind of control set the tone for one of San Francisco’s most complete defensive efforts of the year.
Bethune was the adult in the middle. He finished with a team-high 10 tackles and a tackle for loss, calling plays cleanly and keeping everyone aligned. It wasn’t just about stats — it was how calm and organized the unit looked with a seventh-rounder wearing the headset. That 19-play Atlanta drive in the second quarter that ended in a field goal said everything: the Niners bent, but never broke.
He didn’t try to mimic Fred Warner — he honored him. Wearing Warner’s old rookie number 48 pregame was a subtle nod that the standard stays the standard. Afterward, Bethune said he was emotional before kickoff and thankful for the chance. “I just trusted my preparation and my teammates,” he told reporters postgame.
It helped that the 49ers complemented him with pressure off the edge. Bryce Huff came up with a huge strip-sack on Michael Penix Jr., and the defensive line kept the pocket collapsing. When your MIKE is communicating cleanly and your front four is landing shots, the whole defense hums.
Zoom out, and it’s even more impressive. The Falcons came in as a tough, physical team that hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher all year. San Francisco flipped that script, rushing for 174 yards as Christian McCaffrey went full superhero with 201 total yards. The result was a night where the 49ers dictated tempo and turned a supposedly even matchup into a comfortable two-score win.
Bethune’s rise makes it all sweeter. From Florida State standout to seventh-round flyer to green-dot starter in just his second season — it’s the type of climb that defines San Francisco’s culture. When Kyle Shanahan and Steve Wilks announced midweek that Bethune would handle the defensive calls, it showed complete trust. On Sunday, that faith looked well placed.
By game’s end, Bethune wasn’t just filling in for Fred Warner — he was channeling him. The standard didn’t drop; it just wore a new number. If the 49ers can keep getting this kind of play from their depth, the defense won’t just survive the season — it’ll thrive.
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Questions Fans Are Asking
How did Tatum Bethune perform replacing Fred Warner?
Bethune wore the green dot, recorded 10 tackles and a tackle for loss, and led the defense that held Atlanta to just 10 points.
What was Bijan Robinson averaging before facing the 49ers?
He entered the game averaging 87.3 rushing yards per contest, ranking in the league’s top five, but was limited to 40 rushing yards.
Why is the green dot significant?
It designates the defensive play-caller — a role that demands trust and leadership. Bethune received it midweek and proved he could handle it like a veteran.