Patrick L. Willis (born January 25, 1985) is an American football player who plays inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). 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 in all five 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 many as the best inside linebacker in professional football. 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 Foundation 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.
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 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.
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
