When Patrick Willis stood on the San Francisco 49ers podium in March 2015, he had tears in his eyes as he explained why he was walking away from the NFL after eight stellar seasons.
Today, Willis is one of 15 finalists in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 for the third consecutive year.
It’s an honor every NFL player dreams of when entering the league: the chance for his legacy to live forever in Canton, Ohio. Although voters rejected Willis the last two years, he is nominated again to join the likes of legends.
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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis flexes after sounding the siren for the San Jose Earthquakes before a game against Los Angeles FC at Levi’s Stadium. (Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)
“I just wanted to be one of them,” Willis told Fox News Digital, referring to the Canton legends. “If one person could remember me, that would be amazing. It seems like a little more than you remember, so I’m grateful for that. But whatever is, will be.”
Typically, players in the Hall are those who have accumulated years and years of service in the league, performing at the highest level to earn the right to live forever in Canton. However, at age 30, Willis knew it was time to step away from the game.
Of course, 49ers fans, and all football fans, were shocked to see one of the greatest middle linebackers to ever put on pads resign. However, Willis said he then knew it was time.
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“You’ve all seen me, I had surgery. I broke my hand on a Sunday, I had surgery on Monday and I played on a Thursday with a cast. I’ve done it numerous times and you’ve all seen it.” Willis said that day in March 2015. “But there’s something about these feet. When you don’t have feet. To me, that’s what made me who I am.”
Nearly nine years later, Willis still feels like he did then.
“At the end of the day, for what it’s worth, you can always say what if or should’ve done it,” he explained to Fox News Digital. “But I was lucky to play the time I was given, and the results were what they were, and I will say judge me on that and not on what you think I could have done. If you go outside of those numbers, maybe they are what good enough. At the end of the day, it’s up to those who vote, and I’m honored to be a finalist and I just want to thank all my teammates and coaches over the years and time that helped me be able to become what what was it”.
Willis played in 112 games in the regular season, all for the 49ers, the team that selected him 11th overall out of Ole Miss in the 2007 NFL Draft. He recorded 950 combined tackles, 733 of which were solo , with 20.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and eight interceptions, two of which came back for pick-sixes.
Patrick Willis, former pro linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, was the guest speaker at the 37th Annual Jackson-Madison County Hall of Fame Banquet held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (IMAGE)
His speed and relentless ability to go sideline to sideline for the football team made him an indispensable player for San Francisco, and the rest of the league recognized him with five All-Pro nods and seven Pro Bowls. He was also named to the Hall of Fame team of the 2010s.
So, as Willis continues to live his life to the fullest after football, he knows that receiving the decision that he is in the Hall of Fame, if it ever comes, would be a testament to the hard work he put in. to the point where he had nothing left to give.
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“It would be a complete circle [moment]” he said. “I don’t want to change my perspective on how I always thought about this. If you go back to my press conference the day I retired and listen to the things I said about it, I still feel the same way. It’s a great honor”.
Willis remains extremely active even though his playing days are over, and he couldn’t do it without Nirvana Super wellness drinks to help him with his rigorous training.
His former teammate, Donte Whitner, introduced him to Nirvana Super and its “muscle keeper” ingredient, HMB, which is a substance produced when the body metabolizes the essential amino acid leucine, which is obtained from the diet. The beverage brand aims to improve muscle performance, recovery, hydration and wellness all in one – something Willis now can’t live without.
Patrick Willis, number 52 of the San Francisco 49ers, stands on the sidelines before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park on December 12, 2010 in San Francisco. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 40-21. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
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“Staying fit and active is good for the body, good for the mind. And then when you have the right product and you’re taking the right thing, I don’t even want to call it a supplement. When you’re taking the right product, you tend to make it a good favor to your body. “It’s an honor to be part of Nirvana Super.”
