San Francisco 49ers Linebacker Patrick Willis Officially Retires From the NFL

After an outstanding eight-year run, San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis has decided that his time in the NFL is up. Willis, who spent all eight years of his professional career with the 49ers, announced on Monday night that he will be retiring. “Today is my Future, Past, and Present all in one,” he posted through WhoSay. “It’s bigger than me, it always has been and it always will be…I thank you guys for everything, it has been an absolute pleasure….I look forward to the continuation of my journey… I feel full with something that needs to be out, and i just want to share it! Success is only as beautiful as our Consistency!”  Willis will be holding a press conference Tuesday afternoon to address the public about his retirement.

At 30 years old, Willis is in the prime of his life and undoubtedly has a lot of energy, strength, and passion left in him to succeed in the game of football. So it definitely shocked some people to hear that he was retiring so early in his career. However, according to ESPN, he has been dealing with a chronic toe injury that has been bothering him for a few years now. In 2014, he had to have surgery on his toe after just six games in, which ended his season early. It appears that the problem is so severe now that he unfortunately will no longer be able to play through it.

Willis was first drafted by the 49ers in the 2007 NFL draft with their first round pick. He was already a standout his rookie year, leading the NFL in tackles, being named the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, as well as winning the 49ers’ MVP award. And that was just his first year! He went on to be named All-Pro five more times, play in the Pro Bowl every season of his career (with the exception of 2014), and become one of the few players in 49ers’ history to be a two-time MVP.

Willis had become one of the biggest stars of the 49ers franchise and was recognized as a dominant force on defense across the league. He will be sorely missed by fans. We wish him the best wherever the next chapter of his life takes him!