San Francisco 49ers legend Patrick Willis will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month. The Pro Football Hall of Fame shared a video of the former linebacker unboxing his gold jacket with a big smile on his face.
"Wow," Willis can be heard saying. "There was a time when one person offered to make me a yellow jacket, and it was in symbolism that, one day, I would perhaps be able to have the real one. But until then, I would have that. But to be holding this, it's beyond words."
You can watch it below.
You now have the real deal, @PatrickWillis52. Soon you will be able to wear your Gold Jacket made by @HaggarCo with the rest of the Class of 2024. pic.twitter.com/TaU6E7sIEA
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) July 13, 2024
Throughout his career, Willis recorded 950 tackles, 60 tackles for loss, 41 quarterback hits, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions, two touchdowns, 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 helped lead the team to three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance in the 2012 season. He retired after the 2014 season due to persistent injury concerns, ending his legendary NFL career earlier than fans hoped.
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.