Under Holland’s watch, star 49ers linebacker Fred Warner has reached First-Team All-Pro status and the Pro Bowl three times — 2020, 2022 and 2023. Holland is revered by the players he coaches, and Warner is no different. He told King that even in the face of his cancer, Holland’s leadership and love for life never has waned — and that approach has rubbed off on the All-Pro.
“If you’ve met Johnny for the first time,” Warner told King, “you’d never know anything was wrong. The life that he brings, the energy he brings day in and day out, it’s
“If you’ve met Johnny for the first time,” Warner told King, “you’d never know anything was wrong. The life that he brings, the energy he brings day in and day out, it’s unbelievable. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and remind myself that he does have, you know, something serious that he is dealing with. How can you watch that, as one of his players, and think, ‘Man, you know, I’m just not feeling it today. I’m gonna take today off.’
“I got the blueprint right there. I got the guy who’s giving his all through the toughest of times. That’s probably one of the greatest blessings that I’ve had in my career, to be able to see that every day.”
Holland told King he never thinks, “Why me?”
