Patrick Willis
Encyclopedia
Patrick L. Willis is an American football
player who plays inside linebacker
for the San Francisco 49ers
of the National Football League
. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers
11th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at the University of Mississippi
.
During Willis' senior season at Ole Miss, he was awarded the Butkus Award
and the Jack Lambert Award as the nation’s top linebacker. A year later as a member of the 49ers, Willis led the NFL in tackles, earned First Team All-Pro
and Pro Bowl
honors while being named the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Willis has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors all four years he has played in the NFL. He is the only player to receive the Butkus Award for best linebacker in more than one category. He won the college Butkus Award in 2006 while at Ole Miss
and in 2009, he won the professional Butkus Award while with the San Francisco 49ers
.
Patrick Willis is regarded by some as the best inside linebacker in professional football.
, 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 earned 4 letters in football and basketball, and 3 in baseball. He was also the first person in Tennessee state history to be 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.
Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Willis was listed as the No. 60 linebacker prospect in the class of 2003. He chose Ole Miss over Memphis.
and College Football Hall of Fame
.
As a sophomore in 2004, he appeared in 10 of 11 games and earned honorable mention All-Southeastern Conference
(SEC) honors from The Associated Press. He recorded 70 tackles (54 solo), and led the team with 11.0 TFLs (tackles-for-loss) and five sacks.
In Willis' 2005 junior campaign, he led the SEC in total tackles at 12.80 per game, which placed him sixth nationally. He finished season with 128 total tackles, 9.5 TFLs, three sacks, 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 named First Team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com and the All-American Football Foundation. Willis earned First Team All-SEC honors from Associated Press, SEC Coaches, CollegeFootballNews.com and Rivals.com.
During Willis' last collegiate year in 2006, he led the SEC in tackles once again with 11.4 per game and collected 137 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, seven passes deflected, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was awarded 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 prestigious Dick Butkus Award
, given to the most outstanding linebacker in college football
. He also won the Conerly Trophy, voted upon by the media in Mississippi
and awarded to the best college football player in Mississippi. He was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award and semifinalist for both the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy.
in Indianapolis, Indiana
, Willis further impressed scouts with his performance; his 4.51 40-yard dash was one of the fastest among linebackers. He also posted a 39-inch vertical jump and recorded 22 repetitions of the 225-lb. bench press. Willis clocked in at 4.37 seconds for his 40-yard dash during his University of Mississippi pro-day workout. Analysts of The Sporting News
compared him to Jeremiah Trotter
. Willis also earned South Team Defensive MVP honors at the 2007 Senior Bowl.
Willis was selected by the San Francisco 49ers
with the 11th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, re-uniting him with the staff that coached his South Squad at the 2007 Senior Bowl. He signed a five-year, $16.7 million contract with the 49ers. Willis was coached directly by Hall of Fame middle-linebacker/coach Mike Singletary
(who later became 49ers head coach), and eventually started at inside linebacker, specifically the "Mike" position, in the 49ers' 3-4 defense
.
, as he led the 49ers defense in containing Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson, who managed just 3 yards on 14 carries. Willis' most impressive statistical performance came in week 16 at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this game he recorded 20 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass deflected in a 21-19 victory, earning Rookie of the Week honors for the fourth time. In addition to receiving the award in weeks 1 and 16, Willis took home the award in weeks 2 and 12. He was also awarded the GMC Defensive player of the Week twice.
In a game against the Arizona Cardinals
on November 25, Willis ran down wide receiver Sean Morey after a 62-yard, catch-and-run for the game-saving tackle in overtime. The Niners eventually won 37-31.
Willis finished the 2007 campaign with an NFL-leading 174 total tackles, along with 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes deflected. As a result, Willis was one of two 49ers selected to the Pro Bowl
along with punter Andy Lee
. Other honors earned at the conclusion of his first professional season included being named AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Pro
by the Associated Press
and the 2007 NFL Alumni Linebacker Of The Year
which is chosen by past NFL ALUMNI professional players. He was the only rookie in the NFL to make the AP All-Pro squad and the first defensive rookie from the 49ers to make the Pro Bowl since Ronnie Lott
in 1981. His season was capped by being named one of ESPN The Magazine
's "NEXT" athletes of 2008, alongside Yankee
Joba Chamberlain
and Trail Blazer
Brandon Roy
.
He ended his rookie season with 174 tackles, 4.0 quarterback sacks, 2 forced fumble
s, 7.0 tackles at a loss, and 5 Passes Defended. According to the 49ers, however, he is unofficially credited with over 200 tackles during that season.
Patrick Willis' statistics in 2007
In his second NFL season he scored his first career NFL touchdown, on an 86 yard return of an interception, in Seattle. Willis was ranked 2nd in the NFL for tackles that year.
On December 16, during another dominating season with the 49ers, Patrick Willis was named the starting inside linebacker for the NFC Pro Bowl team. In just two seasons, he has established himself as one of the top linebackers in the NFL.
At the end of the year, Patrick Willis was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, this time as a starter. He was also voted Second Team All-Pro, barely missing the first team as Jon Beason
of Carolina Panthers
collected one more vote than Willis.
Patrick Willis' statistics in 2008
for a 23 yard touchdown return, the second defensive touchdown of his career.
The biggest improvement in his game from the previous year was the increased sideline-to-sideline range. Willis made 54 tackles on plays labeled as “Wide left” or “Wide right” which accounted for 35.5% of his total tackles. In that area, he led all inside linebackers by a large margin. He was also the league leader in impact plays with a total of 27.
By the end of the year, Willis has accumulated an NFL-leading 152 tackles along with 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 8 pass deflections and 3 interceptions. He has now led the league in tackles in two of his first three seasons. Patrick Willis also earned First Team All-Pro
receiving 49/50 votes from the AP and was voted to his third consecutive Pro Bowl
. He becomes the first 49ers player to make it to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons since Ronnie Lott
kicked off his career with four straight appearances starting in 1981. However, shortly before the Pro Bowl, which was set in South Florida, Willis decided to play it safe and opted not to play due to a leg injury he sustained. Willis stayed in South Florida for the game and stood on the sideline in support of the NFC team and 49er teammates Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Justin Smith and Andy Lee.
Patrick Willis was named the 2009 NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year
, an award voted on by past NFL linebackers. Willis also became the second NFL player to win the Butkus Award
since it was expanded in 2008 to include high school and professional winners in part to help end anabolic steroid abuse among young athletes. He became the first linebacker to receive the prestigious award in more than one category, both in college and in the pros.
Patrick Willis' statistics in 2009
In 2010, Willis strengthened a new dimension of his game, totaling a career-high 6.0 sacks. He played through the season with several injuries, playing a game against the San Diego Chargers with a cast on his broken hand. Willis was ruled out for Week 17 after undergoing a second surgery on his broken right hand. It was the first time that Willis had ever missed a game in his career. Willis has made a habit of making it to the Pro Bowl. He’s gone all four seasons of his NFL career and even with his tackle numbers down (largely due to offenses scheming against him), Willis still finished with the second-most fan votes for inside linebackers in the entire NFL. He now joins Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott as only 49ers players to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of their first four seasons.
Willis also earned First Team All-Pro
from the Associated Press alongside Jerod Mayo
of the New England Patriots
. For the third time in his career, and the second year in a row, he was named Linebacker of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association
.
Patrick Willis' statistics in 2010
.com. "Nobody in the NFL plays their position better than Patrick Willis, and that is saying a lot," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. "He is as good a linebacker as Peyton Manning
is a quarterback, as Andre Johnson
is a receiver, as Adrian Peterson is a running back. He has no weaknesses." Even 12-time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis
, the dominant linebacker of his era, pointed to Willis as a worthy successor to his undisputed reign. ESPN's Dana Jacobson
asked Lewis which young linebacker reminded him of himself. "I just love the way he plays the game," Lewis said. "He plays the game with a fire. He reminds me of myself—a lot, a lot, a lot." Willis also came in fourth in an ESPN expert vote for the NFL's 10 best defensive players, finishing only behind Troy Polamalu
, Demarcus Ware
, and Darrelle Revis
.Willis currently has 78 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.
He holds a degree in criminal justice
and envisions a future in law enforcement.
His uncle, Arthur Willis, was a professional super middleweight
boxer
who once fought later world champion James Toney
to a split decision.
Willis' brother, Detris, drowned in 2006 while swimming with his friends.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who plays inside linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
11th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Mississippi
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
.
During Willis' senior season at Ole Miss, he was awarded the Butkus Award
Dick Butkus Award
The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
and the Jack Lambert Award as the nation’s top linebacker. A year later as a member of the 49ers, Willis led the NFL in tackles, earned First Team All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
and Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
honors while being named the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Willis has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors all four years he has played in the NFL. He is the only player to receive the Butkus Award for best linebacker in more than one category. He won the college Butkus Award in 2006 while at Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
and in 2009, he won the professional Butkus Award while with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Patrick Willis is regarded by some as the best inside linebacker in professional football.
Early life
Born in Bruceton, TennesseeBruceton, Tennessee
Bruceton is a town in Carroll County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,478 in the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, 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 earned 4 letters in football and basketball, and 3 in baseball. He was also the first person in Tennessee state history to be 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.
Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Willis was listed as the No. 60 linebacker prospect in the class of 2003. He chose Ole Miss over Memphis.
College career
As a freshman at Ole Miss, Willis played in all 13 games, making 20 stops. He received the Scholar-Athlete Award from the Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football FoundationNational Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
and College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
As a sophomore in 2004, he appeared in 10 of 11 games and earned honorable mention All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) honors from The Associated Press. He recorded 70 tackles (54 solo), and led the team with 11.0 TFLs (tackles-for-loss) and five sacks.
In Willis' 2005 junior campaign, he led the SEC in total tackles at 12.80 per game, which placed him sixth nationally. He finished season with 128 total tackles, 9.5 TFLs, three sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Willis was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com and Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
. He was also named First Team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com and the All-American Football Foundation. Willis earned First Team All-SEC honors from Associated Press, SEC Coaches, CollegeFootballNews.com and Rivals.com.
During Willis' last collegiate year in 2006, he led the SEC in tackles once again with 11.4 per game and collected 137 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, seven passes deflected, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was awarded SEC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-SEC, and consensus First Team All-American
2006 College Football All-America Team
The 2006 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, CBS Sports, ESPN, College...
. He was the winner of the Jack Lambert Award and the prestigious Dick Butkus Award
Dick Butkus Award
The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
, given to the most outstanding linebacker in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. He also won the Conerly Trophy, voted upon by the media in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and awarded to the best college football player in Mississippi. He was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award and semifinalist for both the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy.
Awards and Honors
- 2× First Team All-SEC (2005, 2006)
- 2× All-AmericaAll-AmericaAn All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n (20052005 College Football All-America TeamThe 2005 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College...
, 20062006 College Football All-America TeamThe 2006 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, CBS Sports, ESPN, College...
) - SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2006)
- Butkus AwardDick Butkus AwardThe Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
(2006) - Jack Lambert Award (2006)
- Conerly Trophy (2006)
Professional career
2007 NFL Draft
At the 2007 NFL Combine at RCA DomeRCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Willis further impressed scouts with his performance; his 4.51 40-yard dash was one of the fastest among linebackers. He also posted a 39-inch vertical jump and recorded 22 repetitions of the 225-lb. bench press. Willis clocked in at 4.37 seconds for his 40-yard dash during his University of Mississippi pro-day workout. Analysts of The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
compared him to Jeremiah Trotter
Jeremiah Trotter
Jeremiah Trotter is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stephen F...
. Willis also earned South Team Defensive MVP honors at the 2007 Senior Bowl.
Willis was selected by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
with the 11th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, re-uniting him with the staff that coached his South Squad at the 2007 Senior Bowl. He signed a five-year, $16.7 million contract with the 49ers. Willis was coached directly by Hall of Fame middle-linebacker/coach Mike Singletary
Mike Singletary
Michael "Mike" Singletary is an American football coach and former professional football player. He is currently the linebacker coach and assistant head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL....
(who later became 49ers head coach), and eventually started at inside linebacker, specifically the "Mike" position, in the 49ers' 3-4 defense
3-4 defense
In American football, the 3–4 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers.The 3–4 defense declined in popularity over the years, but has found renewed use by modern professional and college football teams. The 3–4 defense is so named because it involves 3...
.
2007 NFL season
In his first NFL game, Willis recorded 11 tackles, including 9 solo, and a forced fumble as the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in dramatic fashion by a score of 20-17. For his effort, he won the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week Award. One of Willis' strongest performances came against the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, as he led the 49ers defense in containing Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson, who managed just 3 yards on 14 carries. Willis' most impressive statistical performance came in week 16 at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this game he recorded 20 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass deflected in a 21-19 victory, earning Rookie of the Week honors for the fourth time. In addition to receiving the award in weeks 1 and 16, Willis took home the award in weeks 2 and 12. He was also awarded the GMC Defensive player of the Week twice.
In a game against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 25, Willis ran down wide receiver Sean Morey after a 62-yard, catch-and-run for the game-saving tackle in overtime. The Niners eventually won 37-31.
Willis finished the 2007 campaign with an NFL-leading 174 total tackles, along with 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes deflected. As a result, Willis was one of two 49ers selected to the Pro Bowl
2008 Pro Bowl
The 2008 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2007 season. It was played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 10, 2008. The game was televised in the United States by Fox and began shortly after 11:40am local time . The NFC won, 42–30, despite a 17-point first half AFC...
along with punter Andy Lee
Andy Lee (American football)
Andrew Paul Lee is a punter in the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 6th round in the 2004 NFL Draft and is currently serving a 6 year, $7.1 million contract that runs through 2012. The contract also included a $1.66 million signing bonus...
. Other honors earned at the conclusion of his first professional season included being named AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and the 2007 NFL Alumni Linebacker Of The Year
National Football League Alumni
The NFL Alumni is a 501 charity that is composed of former NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth." The NFL Alumni advances its motto...
which is chosen by past NFL ALUMNI professional players. He was the only rookie in the NFL to make the AP All-Pro squad and the first defensive rookie from the 49ers to make the Pro Bowl since Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his crushing hits on opposing players...
in 1981. His season was capped by being named one of ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
's "NEXT" athletes of 2008, alongside Yankee
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
Joba Chamberlain
Joba Chamberlain
Justin Louis "Joba" Chamberlain is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.-Early life:Chamberlain was born and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chamberlain's parents, Harlan Chamberlain and Jackie Standley, were never married and split up when Joba was 18 months old...
and Trail Blazer
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
Brandon Roy
Brandon Roy
Brandon Dawayne Roy is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. He was selected sixth in the 2006 NBA Draft, having completed four years playing for the Washington Huskies. In 2009, he served as the team's co-captain, along...
.
He ended his rookie season with 174 tackles, 4.0 quarterback sacks, 2 forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s, 7.0 tackles at a loss, and 5 Passes Defended. According to the 49ers, however, he is unofficially credited with over 200 tackles during that season.
| Games | Comb | Tackles | Ast | Sacks | PDef | INT | TD | YDS | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 174 | 135 | 39 | 4.0 | 5 | - | - | - | 2 |
Patrick Willis' statistics in 2007
2008 NFL season
On December 16, during another dominating season with the 49ers, Patrick Willis was named the starting inside linebacker for the NFC Pro Bowl team. In just two seasons, he has established himself as one of the top linebackers in the NFL.
At the end of the year, Patrick Willis was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, this time as a starter. He was also voted Second Team All-Pro, barely missing the first team as Jon Beason
Jon Beason
Jonathan Beason is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers 25th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.-Early years:Beason attended Chaminade Madonna College...
of Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
collected one more vote than Willis.
| Games | Comb | Tackles | Ast | Sacks | PDef | INT | TD | YDS | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 141 | 109 | 32 | 1.0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 86 | 1 |
Patrick Willis' statistics in 2008
2009 NFL season
Patrick Willis started the season strong in the opener against the Arizona Cardinals. He recorded 14 tackles and an interception in a 20-16 win in Arizona. He also had a huge game in week 4 against St. Louis finishing with 8 tackles, 2.5 sacks. Willis also intercepted Kyle BollerKyle Boller
Kyle Bryan Boller is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at The University of California.Boller has also played for the St...
for a 23 yard touchdown return, the second defensive touchdown of his career.
The biggest improvement in his game from the previous year was the increased sideline-to-sideline range. Willis made 54 tackles on plays labeled as “Wide left” or “Wide right” which accounted for 35.5% of his total tackles. In that area, he led all inside linebackers by a large margin. He was also the league leader in impact plays with a total of 27.
By the end of the year, Willis has accumulated an NFL-leading 152 tackles along with 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 8 pass deflections and 3 interceptions. He has now led the league in tackles in two of his first three seasons. Patrick Willis also earned First Team All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
receiving 49/50 votes from the AP and was voted to his third consecutive Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
. He becomes the first 49ers player to make it to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons since Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his crushing hits on opposing players...
kicked off his career with four straight appearances starting in 1981. However, shortly before the Pro Bowl, which was set in South Florida, Willis decided to play it safe and opted not to play due to a leg injury he sustained. Willis stayed in South Florida for the game and stood on the sideline in support of the NFC team and 49er teammates Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Justin Smith and Andy Lee.
Patrick Willis was named the 2009 NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year
National Football League Alumni
The NFL Alumni is a 501 charity that is composed of former NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth." The NFL Alumni advances its motto...
, an award voted on by past NFL linebackers. Willis also became the second NFL player to win the Butkus Award
Dick Butkus Award
The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
since it was expanded in 2008 to include high school and professional winners in part to help end anabolic steroid abuse among young athletes. He became the first linebacker to receive the prestigious award in more than one category, both in college and in the pros.
| Games | Comb | Tackles | Ast | Sacks | PDef | INT | TD | YDS | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 152 | 114 | 38 | 4.0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 33 | 3 |
Patrick Willis' statistics in 2009
2010 NFL season
On May 4, Willis signed a five-year contract extension worth $50 million, with $29 million in guaranteed money making him the highest paid inside linebacker in the NFL.In 2010, Willis strengthened a new dimension of his game, totaling a career-high 6.0 sacks. He played through the season with several injuries, playing a game against the San Diego Chargers with a cast on his broken hand. Willis was ruled out for Week 17 after undergoing a second surgery on his broken right hand. It was the first time that Willis had ever missed a game in his career. Willis has made a habit of making it to the Pro Bowl. He’s gone all four seasons of his NFL career and even with his tackle numbers down (largely due to offenses scheming against him), Willis still finished with the second-most fan votes for inside linebackers in the entire NFL. He now joins Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott as only 49ers players to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of their first four seasons.
Willis also earned First Team All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
from the Associated Press alongside Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo
-2008 season:Mayo was drafted by the New England Patriots with the tenth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was signed on July 24, 2008, to a five-year contract worth $18.9 million, including $13.8 million in bonuses and guarantees...
of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. For the third time in his career, and the second year in a row, he was named Linebacker of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association
National Football League Alumni
The NFL Alumni is a 501 charity that is composed of former NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth." The NFL Alumni advances its motto...
.
| Games | Comb | Tackles | Ast | Sacks | PDef | INT | TD | YDS | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 128 | 101 | 27 | 6.0 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 2 |
Patrick Willis' statistics in 2010
2011 NFL season
Patrick Willis ran away from the field in the voting for the NFL's best linebacker on ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.com. "Nobody in the NFL plays their position better than Patrick Willis, and that is saying a lot," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. "He is as good a linebacker as Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
is a quarterback, as Andre Johnson
Andre Johnson
Andre Lamont Johnson is an American football wide receiver currently playing for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Through the 2010–11 NFL season, Johnson currently ranks first all-time in NFL history in receiving yards per game for a career...
is a receiver, as Adrian Peterson is a running back. He has no weaknesses." Even 12-time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis is a professional American football player.Ray Lewis may also refer to:* Ray Lewis , former English association football referee* Ray Lewis , Canadian track-and-field athlete...
, the dominant linebacker of his era, pointed to Willis as a worthy successor to his undisputed reign. ESPN's Dana Jacobson
Dana Jacobson
Dana Jacobson is an ESPN anchorwoman. She joined the network as an ESPNEWS anchor in December 2002 and soon became a regular anchor on the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter. In March 2005, she was named co-host of Cold Pizza, and transitioned with the show as it became ESPN First Take...
asked Lewis which young linebacker reminded him of himself. "I just love the way he plays the game," Lewis said. "He plays the game with a fire. He reminds me of myself—a lot, a lot, a lot." Willis also came in fourth in an ESPN expert vote for the NFL's 10 best defensive players, finishing only behind Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu
Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-High school:Troy Polamalu graduated...
, Demarcus Ware
Demarcus Ware
DeMarcus Ware is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Troy University...
, and Darrelle Revis
Darrelle Revis
Though Revis was not the first defensive back drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft , he was the first cornerback taken that year...
.Willis currently has 78 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.
Personal
Willis was separated from his biological father at the age of 17, and along with his three siblings moved in with his parental guardians, Willis' high school basketball coach, Chris Finley, and his wife, Julie.He holds a degree in criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
and envisions a future in law enforcement.
His uncle, Arthur Willis, was a professional super middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who once fought later world champion James Toney
James Toney
James Nathanial Toney is an American professional boxer who has held world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight divisions. Toney currently fights in the heavyweight division in boxing and also now competes in mixed martial arts.-Boxing career:Toney's amateur boxing...
to a split decision.
Willis' brother, Detris, drowned in 2006 while swimming with his friends.