The Pro Football Hall of Fame has revealed its Class of 2024, and former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is among the distinguished inductees.
In September, 173 nominees were announced, which were later narrowed down to 25 semifinalists in November. In December, Willis learned he was among the 15 modern-era finalists for the Class of 2024, marking his third consecutive year as a finalist.
"Congratulations to Patrick Willis on his well-deserved honor of being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame," 49ers ownership said in a statement. "Willis has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history. He set a standard of excellence and provided exemplary leadership for his teammates. His grit and passion for the game anchored our defense and elevated everyone around him. We join the 49ers Faithful in celebrating Willis as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024."
About damn time. #PFHOF24 pic.twitter.com/JX8ORH73YJ
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) February 9, 2024
Drafted 11th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, Willis enjoyed an illustrious eight-season career with San Francisco, quickly establishing himself as one of the league's premier defensive players.
The linebacker amassed seven Pro Bowl selections and earned first-team All-Pro honors five times.
"A fantastic football player, fantastic human being," 49ers general manager John Lynch said of Willis while speaking to reporters in Las Vegas on Wednesday. "Played it the right way. Exuded leadership. Exuded kind of what an inside linebacker should be, to me—physicality, athleticism. Just played it with a passion that I think was unique. You could tell his teammates responded, the crowd responded to the way he played."
Throughout his career, Willis recorded 950 tackles, 60 tackles for loss, 41 quarterback hits, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions, two scores, 53 passes defensed, and 16 forced fumbles. He exceeded 100 tackles in six of his eight seasons and led the league in tackles twice, as a rookie in 2007 and again in 2009.
Willis played a pivotal role in the 49ers' resurgence during the early 2010s, helping lead the team to three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance in the 2012 season. Despite retiring after the 2014 season due to persistent injury concerns and ending his NFL career early, Willis will be immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history.
Named to the NFL All-Decade team of the 2010s, Willis was enshrined in the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. 49ers Hall of Fame in 2021 and entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.