Patrick Willis

At 39 years old, Patrick Willis has this physical status:

Patrick L. Willis (born January 25, 1985) is a retired American football linebacker who spent his entire eight-year career with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. (NFL).

In the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, he was drafted by the 49ers.

He played college football for the University of Mississippi and received consensus All-American awards. Willis' senior season at Ole Miss earned him the Butkus Award and the Jack Lambert Award as the country's best linebacker.

Willis, a year later, as a member of the 49ers, received first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl awards, as well as being named the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Willis made the Pro Bowl in his first seven seasons in football, and he received All-Pro recognition in his first six years.

While at Ole Miss in 2006, he received the college Butkus Award, and in 2009, he earned the professional Butkus Award while with the 49ers.

Early life

Willis, who was born in Bruceton, Tennessee, grew up in abject poverty and had to look after his younger siblings. He began working full time in cotton fields before age ten. When his alcoholic father became more violent at age 17, he left his house, a double-wide in a trailer park just outside Bruceton, with his brothers, Orey and Detris, and sister, Ernicka. The siblings were absorbed into Willis' high school basketball coach.

Willis attended Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School, where he was a two-time All-State selection, Regional Most Valuable Player, and West Tennessee Player of the Year. He has earned four letters in football and basketball, as well as three in baseball. He was also nominated for both the Mr. Football Award for a Lineman (as a linebacker) and the Mr. Football Award for a Back (as a tailback) in the same season.

Willis was rated as the No. 1 by Rivals.com as the best recruit by three stars. In the class of 2003, 60 linebacker candidates stood a chance of returning to school. He preferred Ole Miss over Memphis.

Personal life

Willis was estranged from his biological father at the age of 17, with his mother abandoning him when he was a child, and Willis' high school basketball coach, Chris Finley, and his wife, Julie Annette. Willis' brother, Detris, drowned in 2006 while swimming with his relatives. Arthur Willis, his uncle, was a pro middleweight boxer who later defeated future world champion James Toney to a split decision.

He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and imagines himself as a leader in law enforcement. Willis is a Christian. Willis claims that his grandmother told him about Jesus. As Willis plays, he discusses his faith, saying, "No matter the outcome of a game, my No. 1 will remain." One of the goals is to glorify God. I always pray, 'Lord, I'm not sure what today's game will be like, but I do hope that you bless me to go out and play for you.' "Because you are a soldier for your army, come out here and lead this squad in the way you prefer.'"

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College career

Willis played for the Ole Miss Rebels football team from 2003 to 2006. Willis appeared in all 13 games and made 20 stops as a freshman at Ole Miss. The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in Ole Miss received the Scholar-Athlete Award from the Ole Miss chapter.

He appeared in ten of 11 games as a sophomore in 2004 and was given an honorable mention All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) Award by the Associated Press. He had 70 tackles (54 solo), and the team was ranked with 11.0 tackles for a loss and five sacks.

Willis' 2005 junior season, he led the SEC in total tackles at 12.80 per game, ranking him sixth nationally. He finished the season with 128 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interceptor, an interception, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Willis was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com and Scout.com. He was also selected as a first-team All-American by College Football News and the All-American Football Foundation. Willis was named first-team All-SEC by the Associated Press, SEC Coaches, CollegeFootballNews.com, and Rivals.com.

During Willis' last season as an assistant in college, he led the SEC in tackles once more: 11.4 TFLs, seven passes deflected, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-SEC, and consensus first-team All-American. He was the winner of the Jack Lambert Award and the coveted Dick Butkus Award, given to the most outstanding linebacker in college football. He also received the Conerly Trophy, which was also voted on by Mississippi's media and named to the best college football player in Mississippi. In addition,, he was a finalist for both the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy.

Professional career

Willis, who was originally regarded as a late-first draft pick in the NFL Combine, has boosted his draft stock with an impressive play at the NFL Combine; his 4.56 40-yard dash was one of the fastest among linebackers. He also ran a 39-inch vertical jump and made 22 repetitions of the 225-lb. Press press. Willis clocked in at 4.38 seconds during his 40-yard dash during his University of Mississippi pro-day workout. Analysts of The Sporting News likened him to Jeremiah Trotter. At the 2007 Senior Bowl, Willis also received South Team Defensive MVP awards.

Willis was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round as the 11th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, reuniting him with the South Squad's coaching staff. In the 2010 season, he signed a seven-year, $53.51 million contract with the 49ers.

Willis was first coached by Hall of Fame middle-linebacker/coach Mike Singletary (who later became 49ers head coach) and then began to work inside the 49ers' 3-4 defense, specifically the "Mike" position. Willis' debut in his first NFL game, including 9 solo, and a forced fumble, as the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in a dramatic fashion by a score of 20-17. He received the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week Award for his efforts. Willis' best results came against the Minnesota Vikings, when he led the 49ers defense against Adrian Peterson, the year's best defensive Rookie of the Year, who only passed for 3 yards on 14 attempts. Willis' best statistical result against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came in week 16. In a 21–19 victory, he had 20 total tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass deflected, winning Rookie of the Week for the fourth time. Willis received the award in weeks 1 and 16, but in weeks 2 and 12, he returned the award. He was also named the GMC Defensive Player of the Week twice.

Willis brought down wide receiver Sean Morey after a 62-yard catch-and-run for the game-saving tackle in overtime in a game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 25, allowing him to win by a 62-yard catch-and-run. The 49ers eventually won 37–31.

Willis finished his 2007 season with 174 total tackles, four sacks, two forcible fumbles, and five passes deflected. However, the 49ers have incorrectly credited with over 200 tackles during the season. As a result, Willis and punter Andy Lee were two 49ers selected to the Pro Bowl. Among the many awards he earned during his first professional career were named AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, first-team All-Pro, and NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year. He was the first offensive rookie from the 49ers to make the Pro Bowl since Ronnie Lott in 1981. He was the only rookie in the NFL to make the All-Pro squad and the first defensive rookie from the 49ers to make the Pro Bowl. His year was highlighted by being named one of ESPN The Magazine's "NEXT" athletes of 2008, alongside Yankee Joba Chamberlain and Trail Blazer Brandon Roy.

Willis scored his first NFL touchdown against Seattle, who also recovered an interception for 86 yards. Willis was named as the starting linebacker for the NFC Pro Bowl team on December 16, during another prolific season for the 49ers. He established himself as one of the best linebackers in the league in just two seasons.

Willis finished second in tackles and was named his second straight Pro Bowl, this time as a starter. Jon Beason of the Carolina Panthers, who was also named second-team All-Pro, was barely missing the first team's first squad when Willis received one more vote than Willis.

Willis started strong in the season's opener against the Arizona Cardinals. In a 20–16 victory in Arizona, he had 14 tackles and an interception. He also had a big game against St. Louis on week 4, with 8 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception return for a 23-yard touchdown.

The biggest improvement in his game from last year was the increased sideline-to-sideline range. Willis made 54 tackles on plays rated as "Wide left" or "Wide right" by his estimates, total tackles of 36 percent. He led all inside linebackers by a wide margin. With a total of 27 points, he was also the league's best influence plays.

Willis finished the year with 152 tackles, three sacks, three banned fumbles, eight pass deflections, and three interceptions. In two of his first three seasons, he has now led the league in tackles in two of his first three seasons. Willis also received 49/50 votes from the AP, marking his third straight Pro Bowl appearance. However, Willis decided to play it safe and decided against participating due to a leg injury he sustained shortly before the Pro Bowl, which was held in South Florida. He stayed in South Florida for the game and stood on the sideline in favor of the NFC team's 49er teammates Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Justin Smith, and Andy Lee.

Willis was named the 2009 NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year, an honor that has been voted on by current NFL linebackers. Willis also became the second NFL player to win the Butkus Award since it was introduced in 2008 to include high school and professional winners in part to help combat anabolic steroids abuse among young athletes.

Willis signed a five-year contract extension worth $50 million on May 4, making him the highest paid inside linebacker in the NFL.

Willis' 2010 debut increased a dimension of his game by hauling a career-high 6.0 sacks. He had multiple injuries during his season as a result of his broken hand against the San Diego Chargers. Willis was out for Week 17 after undergoing a second surgery on his broken right hand. It was the first time Willis had missed a game in his career. Willis had a habit of making it to the Pro Bowl. Willis had played all four seasons of his NFL career, as well as his tackle numbers falling (largely due to offenses' scheming against him), and he finished second in the second most popular inside linebackers in the entire league. He now joins Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott as the only 49ers to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of their first four seasons.

Along with Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots, Willis was also a first-team All-Pro from the Associated Press. The NFL Alumni Association named Linebacker of the Year for the third time in his career and second year in a row.

Willis ran away from the field in the poll for the NFL's best linebacker on ESPN.com prior to the 2011 season. www.nexo.com "No one in the NFL plays their position better than Patrick Willis, and that is saying a lot." As Andre Johnson, a quarterback, is a quarterback, says Peyton Manning is a quarterback, while Andre Johnson is a running back, as Adrian Peterson is a running back. He has no flaws." And during Pro Bowler Ray Lewis, the dominant linebacker of his time, praised Willis as a worthy successor to his undisputed reign. Dana Jacobson of ESPN asked Lewis which young linebacker reminded him of himself. Lewis said, "I just love the way he plays the game." "He plays the game with a fire." He reminds me of myself—a lot, a lot.' Willis also placed fourth in an ESPN expert poll for the NFL's top defensive players, finishing second only behind 2010 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu, DeMarcus Ware, and Darrelle Revis. Also, when he was rejected, he was disqualified. Ray Rice and co-commentators discussed the similarity in playing style and tactics from Willis to Lewis from ten years ago.

Willis was one of the best ranked 49ers defenses in 2011 and set a single season low not to allow a running touchdown until week 16. The previous record was set by the 1920 Decatur Staleys, who did not allow a rushing touchdown in a 13-game season. The 49ers' stingy defense ranked fourth overall and played a significant role in the 49ers' 13–3 record. The 49ers were also the first time since 2002 when they were division champions and then champions of the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Willis landed awkwardly after missing a tackle and injuring his right hamstring during a game against the St. Louis Rams in week 13. Despite missing nearly four games due to a hamstring injury, Willis finished the season with 97 tackles, four forced fumbles, 12 pass deflections, and an intercept. He also improved his game in coverage by winning a career-high 12 pass deflections. Willis was named to his fifth straight Pro Bowl appearances and became the first franchise player to make five Pro Bowl appearances to start a career. In addition,, he was voted first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press for the third year in a row.

Willis had 120 combined tackles, two forced fumbles (one recovery), two interceptions, nine passes covered, and 0.5 sacks during the 2012 season. For the second year in a row, he led the 49ers into the playoffs. Willis lost Super Bowl XLVIIII to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34–31. During the 2012 offseason, Willis had 29 combined tackles as well as a dismissal.

Willis underwent surgery on August 5, 2013 to fix a fractured hand he suffered during training camp. He appeared in the first three games of the season but then sustained a groin injury in Week 3. He will then miss the next two games. However, he had 18 tackles against the Atlanta Falcons in a game against the Atlanta Falcons. He had 104 tackles at the 2013 season and missed out on 104.

Willis' participation in six games of the 2014 season was hampered by a nagging toe injury. On November 11, he opted to suspend his season and do season-ending surgery on his nagging left big toe, which bothered him for many seasons. Willis was put on the injured reserve list within minutes after the surgery was completed by the 49ers.

Willis announced his retirement on March 10, 2015 after struggling with a toe injury that kept him sidelined for the majority of 2014.

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