Hall of Fame linebacker Patrick Willis recently spoke with Touchdown Wire's Ed Easton Jr., offering his insights on today's NFL game. Willis, who spent his entire eight-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, earned five first-team All-Pro honors and was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.
Though retired, Willis remains a passionate fan of football. When asked to name his favorite linebackers, he acknowledged the difficulty of making comparisons but highlighted a few standouts.
"It's kind of hard to compare," Willis explained. "I'm a person, I don't like to compare it. I always feel like everyone is their own individual. I will say there are some great linebacker play happening in the NFL. Maybe I'm a little biased, but I feel [49ers LB] Fred [Warner] is still the number one linebacker, him and [Ravens LB] Roquan [Smith].
"Feel like they are 1A, 1B. They're both right there, and both are very good—the different things that they do make them All-Pros, which they are. I enjoy watching good football and seeing guys get after it, and have a fanatical effort. [49ers LB] Dre Greenlaw, when healthy, is one of the best. When Dre and Fred are together, man, they are a joy to watch."
Widely regarded as one of the NFL's top defenders, Warner will enter his eighth season in 2025. A four-time first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, he has been a consistent force on the 49ers defense.
Meanwhile, Greenlaw hasn't achieved the same accolades but remains a key contributor when healthy. Together, the duo is considered one of the NFL's best. Unfortunately, Greenlaw missed most of the 2024 season as he recovered from a torn Achilles. His return to the football field was cut short by another setback, and the linebacker is scheduled to become a free agent.
"I enjoy watching good defense, good football, and the play of Fred and Roquan," Willis continued. "I like Nakobe Dean from the Eagles. I'm just a fan of defenders, as I was when I was a kid. ... I just watched the game, and you see the effort. You see guys getting after it, land, the boom, high energy, 100% effort. Those are guys I've always been a fan of, so I'm just a fan of the game, defenders, and those who get after it."