Report: Patrick Willis Planning to Retire from the 49ers
October 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis (52) during player introductions before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi
It’s news no one saw coming when the offseason began: 49ers superstar linebacker Patrick Willis is reportedly planning to retire this offseason.
Here is the the tweet from Yahoo Sports’ Rand Getlin regarding Patrick Willis’s future in San Francisco 49ers:
Source: the #49ers are bracing themselves for the loss of LB Patrick Willis. Expecting him to retire.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) March 9, 2015
Willis was the 49ers first round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft and he has been a monster in the middle of the 49ers defense for the last eight seasons.
Since being drafted, Willis has been a tackling machine, recording 950 tackles in his 112 game career. More importantly though, Willis has been the leader of not just the 49ers defense, but the team as a whole. He has been the face of the franchise, the emotional leader on and off the field, and the reliable force the 49ers could lean on in tough situations.
With that being said, San Francisco does have two very good middle linebackers on their roster at the moment, making this pill a little bit easier to swallow.
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NaVorro Bowman, the former Penn State linebacker, has become a stud in the NFL. Bowman was a third round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and he has recorded 482 tackles in his 64 game career. Up until last season, Bowman had never missed a game for the 49ers, being a defensive rock for Harbaugh’s defense game in and game out. Unfortunately for Bowman and the 49ers, the LB tore his ACL in the 2014 NFC Championship game against the Seahawks, causing him to miss the entire 2014 season. Bowman will be at full health next season and he should remain a rock for the 49ers.
The other inside linebacker is Chris Borland, a guy who had an amazing rookie season, racking up a total of 107 tackles in 14 games. Borland is a young, physical linebacker who should fit in nicely next to Bowman in the middle of the San Francisco defense for many seasons to come.
While the MLB spot seems to be in good hands, losing Willis will still come as a shock and will leave a large void for the 49ers on and off the field. Identity is surely shifting in San Francisco…