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(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers‘ Ji’Ayir Brown had a challenging 2025 NFL season. Brown played 800 snaps for the Niners last campaign, recording a 61.7 overall PFF defensive grade.

Moreover, he recorded two interceptions while having 48 solo tackles in run support and open-field situations, but also registered 12 missed tackles.

This production was at the center of criticism from former Niners safety Donte Whitner, who revealed that Brown contacted him and former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman to tone down the criticism of his play. Nonetheless, Whitner won’t be doing that.

“Ji’Ayir f—ing Brown calling me on the phone, trying to check me, telling me I can’t talk bad about him when he has a bad play,“ Brown said in a May 12 video from the “Grit Code Podcast.” “He called me and Richard Sherman on the phone saying that he used to respect us and that we’re not keeping it G because we told the truth about his deficiencies.

“Ain’t that some bull—t? You f—ing know that you played like s–t last year. I had to step back and collect myself, and I’m thinking, ‘Whitner. Growth. Growth.'”

Moreover, the criticism didn’t stop there after Whitner said that Brown told him he could’ve been a Pro Bowler last season.

“I said, ‘Ji’Ayir, honestly, do you feel like you played like a top safety last year?‘” Whitner added. “He said, ‘Yeah.‘ I said, ‘So you felt like you should have made the Pro Bowl last year?‘ He was like, ‘Yeah.‘ In that moment, I knew that the kid was just f—ing delusional.”

Donte Whitner Isn’t Afraid to Criticize Current Players

Whitner noted that he doesn’t plan to praise any player who doesn’t warrant it and will call out anyone who isn’t playing up to standard for the 49ers. San Francisco is in a win-now window and has to have players ready to play in those pressure situations.

“If you play like s— and I analyze it, I’m going to continue to analyze it that way,“ Whitner noted. “When you play well, I’m not going to be biased. I’m going to give you all the praise in the world. When you play like s—, I’m going to tell you that you played like s—.

“And guess what? I made three Pro Bowls at your position. I’m considered an expert. I have the right to criticize and analyze your game, buddy. So when you don’t perform up to standard, I’m going to speak on it. But if you listen to Hitner, who’s an expert at your position, you will get better.”

What 49ers’ Ji’Ayir Brown Needs Improve On 

Furthermore, Whitner noted what the player needs to improve in his eyes to have better production in 2026 than in the 2025 season.

“You have to get better in the deep half, in the middle of the field,” Whitner said. “You have to get better at pre-snap communication and reading formations. In Cover 2, you have to read your No. 1s. You have to keep a proximity of 15 yards deep, 2 yards inside the inside shoulder of the No. 1 wide receiver [and] you have to keep pace and pedal with urgency.

“You have to have knee bend [and] you have to read out of your peripheral vision what the quarterback is doing; you have to be ready to break efficiently at certain angles. That makes you a professional. That makes you an expert at your position.”