Patrick Willis

Patrick Willis joined the San Francisco 49ers as the team’s first-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was the No. 11 pick overall and first linebacker chosen.

Given Willis’s college accolades, the high draft slot came as little surprise. He had been named an All-American following his standout senior year at the University of Mississippi. That season, he won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award and both the Butkus Award and the Jack Lambert Award as the nation's top collegiate linebacker.

With the 49ers, Willis stepped into the starting lineup as a rookie and made an immediate impact. He totaled 174 tackles (according to Pro Football Reference), four sacks and eight tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles and defensed five passes. For his efforts, he earned the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award from the Associated Press, was named a first-team All-Pro and was the only rookie defensive player invited to the Pro Bowl — his first of seven consecutive selections to that game in an injury-shortened eight-year career.

Willis continued to build his reputation and resume in 2008 and came back in 2009 with perhaps his best overall season statistically: 152 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, eight pass deflections and career-bests with three interceptions and 13 tackles for loss. He won the NFL’s version of the Butkus Award, then in its second season. He also won the Bill Walsh Award as the 49ers most valuable player.

In 2011, he anchored one of the NFL’s top defenses, which set an NFL record by not allowing a rushing touchdown until Week 16. The 49ers finished 13-3, won the NFC West for first time since 2002 and reached the NFC title game. One year later, they played in the Super Bowl, with Willis contributing 10 tackles in the loss to the Ravens.

Willis finished his career with 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions and 16 forced fumbles. He was selected to the NFL’s All Decade Team of the 2010s and was a five-time AP first-team All-Pro.