Speculated yesterday, but made official today, San Francisco 49er Linebacker, Patrick Willis has announced that at the age of 30 he will be retiring from active competition in the National Football League.
The news has taken many by surprise in the Bay Area as Willis had previously told media and fans that he was planning to return to the gridiron.
Drafted eleventh overall by the Niners in 2007 out of the University of Mississippi, Patrick Willis would make an immediate impact going to his first of seven consecutive Pro Bowls, becoming one of only three defensive players to make seven straight trips to Hawaii in his first seven years.
In his rookie year, Willis would also make lead the NFL in Tackles, make the First Team All Pro Team, the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and win the NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year Award. Accolades would keep coming his way as Willis would secure four more First Team All Pro nods (2009-12) and two more NFL Alumni Linemen of the Year Awards (2009 & 2010). The Linebacker would also be named the San Francisco 49ers MVP twice.
Although he only played eight seasons, Willis was an elite Linebacker and an excellent candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We would like to thank Patrick Willis for the memories on the field and wish him the best on the next aspect of his life.
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