Patrick Willis NFL Hall of Fame Enshrinement is This Saturday

CANTON, Ohio — Former Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis was named one of seven players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2024 class. The Enshrinement ceremony is Saturday, August 3 at noon ET and airs live on ESPN.

Willis, a native of Bruceton, left an indelible mark on the game with his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.

Willis, in his fifth year of eligibility, was a finalist for the third consecutive year. In his career, he made the Pro Bowl seven times and was named All-Pro six times. While with the San Francisco 49ers, Willis recorded 950 tackles, 60 tackles for a loss, 41 quarterback hits, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions, two scores, 53 passes defensed and 16 forced fumbles. He led the league in tackles twice, as a rookie in 2007 and again in 2009.

Throughout his career, Willis accumulated numerous accolades and achievements. He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007 and went on to earn five First-team All-Pro selections (2007, 2009-2012) and one Second-team All-Pro selection (2008). Willis was also selected to the Pro Bowl seven times consecutively from 2007 to 2013. He led the NFL in tackles in 2007 and 2009, showcasing his exceptional defensive skills.

Willis was also named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s, entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019, and was inducted into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame in 2021.

In 2007, the 49ers drafted Willis as the eleventh pick overall. He played eight seasons, the span of his NFL career, for San Francisco. Willis played in six games of the 2014 season, hampered by a nagging toe injury. He decided to end his season on November 11 and undergo season-ending surgery. Willis announced his retirement on March 10, 2015.

As a freshman at Ole Miss, Willis received the Scholar-Athlete Award from the Ole Miss chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. 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 tackles for a loss and five sacks.

In Willis’s 2005 junior campaign, he led the SEC in total tackles at 12.80 per game, which placed him sixth nationally. He finished the season with 128 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Willis earned first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press.

During Willis’s 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. In addition, he was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award and a semi-finalist for both the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy.

Off the field, Willis’s dedication to the game was evident during his time at Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School. As a standout athlete, he earned two-time All-State selection, Regional Most Valuable Player, and West Tennessee Player of the Year. Willis’s versatility was showcased across multiple sports, earning him four letters in football and basketball, and three in baseball. He made history in Tennessee state by being the first person nominated for both the Mr. Football Award for a Lineman and the Mr. Football Award for a Back in the same season.

The players, who were inducted, along with their positions and years are:

Dwight Freeney, DE: Carolina Panthers, 2002-09, 2017-18; Chicago Bears, 2010-13; Green Bay Packers, 2014-16.

Randy Gradishar*, LB: Denver Broncos, 1974-1983.

Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR: Chicago Bears, 2006-2013; Atlanta Falcons, 2014-15; Baltimore Ravens, 2016; Seattle Seahawks, 2016.

Andre Johnson, WR: Houston Texans, 2003-2014; Indianapolis Colts, 2015; Tennessee Titans, 2016.

Steve McMichael*, DT: New England Patriots, 1980; Chicago Bears, 1981-1993; Green Bay Packers, 1994.

Julius Peppers, DE: Carolina Panthers, 2002-09, 2017-18; Chicago Bears, 2010-13; Green Bay Packers, 2014-16.

Patrick Willis, LB: San Francisco 49ers, 2007-2014.

*Senior inductee.