49ers legend Patrick Willis finally inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

Feb. 8, 2024, will officially be known as "the day San Francisco 49ers legendary linebacker Patrick Willis got his call to the hall."

OK, maybe we can shorten the title a little bit. But it doesn't take away from the fact one of the greatest NFL linebackers will forever be immortalized in Canton, Ohio along with the likes of other Niners legends Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders and Bryant Young, just to name a few.

For eight outstanding seasons, Willis racked up the hardware. He won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, was on the 2007 NFL All-Rookie team, was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame team All-2000s team, and between 2011 and 2014, he cracked the NFL Top 100 finishing 10th twice, and then 23rd and 27th.

Willis also made the Pro Bowl for seven straight seasons and was a first-team All-Pro five times.

During his time in San Francisco, Willis and fellow retired linebacker NaVorro Bowman created a dynamic force in the middle of the 49ers defense. Current linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner are often compared to Willis and Bowman because they bring similar attributes.

Willis finished his NFL career with 20.5 sacks, 950 tackles with 733 of them being solo, eight interceptions of which two were returned for touchdowns, and 112 games in total all with the red and gold.

Willis always played the game hard. He tackled hard, ran hard and just had everything you want in a football player. He helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012 against the Baltimore Ravens.

The 2024 inductees had no shortage of stardom:

All the nominees changed the game but nobody changed how the linebacker position could be played.

After three years of waiting, Patrick Willis will finally be getting a head bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and his name will forever be remembered for generations to come.

Congratulations, Patrick! And, welcome to Canton.