Willis recalls childhood dreams fulfilled in Pro Football Hall speech

CANTON, Ohio — For several moments during his induction speech on Saturday, one of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame was transported back to his childhood. "Everything I thought as a kid to now is happening in this instant — in real time," former 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis told the crowd at Hall of Fame Stadium that had to endure a lengthy delay due to lightning, thunder and rain. During his 10-minute speech at the enshrinement for the Class of 2024, Willis did not speak of his football accomplishments. He said nothing of his hard hits, blanket pass coverage, seven Pro Bowls, five first-team All-Pro honors and All-Decade selection for the 2010s. Instead, he revealed the inner-Willis, the faith and spirituality that drove him to overcome life's adversity en route to being a role model off the field, in addition to shining as one of the brightest stars in the history of his sport. He recalled a time in the sixth grade in rural Tennessee when he watched a video, "NFL Classic Hits," and the seed was planted that he wanted to play in the NFL. Several weeks later, he watched another VHS. This one gave him the blueprint to get there. It was a biography of...