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In just 3 NFL seasons, Patrick Willis made himself a household name with his stellar play. As the 11th-overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, Willis made an immediate impact as a rookie, earning All-Pro, Pro Bowl and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He kept the accolade flowing by earning Pro Bowl recognition in 2009 after leading the team in tackles for a third straight year. Willis led the NFL in tackles and set career highs in sacks and INTs in 2009. In 48 starts, Willis has tallied 10-or-more tackles in 36 games and 20-or-more stops in 4 contests.

TRANSACTIONS: Originally the first of two 1st round (11th pick overall) draft choices by SF in 2007.

2009 AWARDS & HONORS:
•First-Team All-Pro - Associated Press (3rd selection overall: First-Team - 2007; Second-Team - 2008)
•NFC Pro Bowl Starter - 3rd Selection
•2009 NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year The Sporting News - All-Pro Defense
•Named the team’s 2009 Bill Walsh Award winner as voted on by the coaches, given annually to the 49ers team MVP for his outstanding individual performance.

2009 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•Posted a career-high 4.0 sacks.

A DEADLY STING
Since 2007, Willis’ sideline-to-sideline speed has made him a dominant force at the linebacker position as Pro Bowl RB Adrian Peterson can attest.

"He’s got that deadly sting," RB Adrian Peterson said. "I love Patrick Willis. I love the way he plays ball. He plays ball just like me. He’s the best defensive player in the league at his position - not to take anything away from Ray Lewis; I think eventually he will be better than Ray Lewis. I think we play the game with the same passion. He’s a freak. He’s 245, (runs a) 4.3. He’s a perfect prototype for a linebacker.

Willis played a major role in limiting Peterson to 85 yds. on the ground. In the first meeting between the two teams, Willis and the 49ers defense held Peterson to just 3 yds. on 14 carries, the lowest totals of his career.

According to NFL Gamebook statistics, Willis currently leads the league in tackles per game since 2007.

PAT DOWN
LB Patrick Willis is known for tallying up tackles during the game but he is also a major contributor in the passing defense. Willis has been able to drop into coverage and wreak havoc downfield for opposing quarterbacks with his incredible speed and nose for the ball. His ability to play both the run and the pass allows him to stay on the field through every situation. Since the start of the 2008 season, Willis leads the league in PDs among NFL LBs.

LONG RETURNS
With his speed and athleticism, LB Patrick Willis is a threat when he gets the ball in his hands. He currently holds the longest INT return for a linebacker in franchise history.

2009 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
•Led team in tackles (173) and TFLs (13).
•Ranked t-2nd in the NFL among linebackers with 3 INTs.

TACKLING MACHINE
LB Patrick Willis has already made an impact in the NFL with other NFL player taking notice. RB Adrian Peterson lists Willis as the player he admires most in the NFL today and believes that he can be on the best LBs when it is all said and done.

"In my opinion, I think he’s going to be on the best to play the game with his size, strength and speed combination and how he plays the game," Peterson said. He has annually ranked among the league leaders in tackles since being drafted by the 49ers in 2007. He led the NFL in tackles according to NFL Gamebooks in 2009.

FORCIN' FUMBLES
Willis has contributed to the 49ers leading the NFL in forced fumbles with 23 on the season.

SECOND LEVEL OF DEFENSE
The 49ers sported one of the tougher run defenses in the NFL in 2009, but if a running back manages to get to the second level, they still have quite the challenge with LB Takeo Spikes and LB Patrick Willis waiting for them in the middle. The 49ers ranked 5th (1st in the NFC) in the NFL in 2009 in fewest rushes of 10-or-more yds. allowed.

The 49ers’ defense ranks t-3rd (1st in the NFC) in the NFL in rushes of 10-or-more yds. allowed since Mike Singletary took over as head coach on 10/20/08.

LEANING ON THE LINEBACKERS
The 49ers’ linebackers have wreaked havoc on opposing QBs this season, ranking 3rd in the NFC and 6th in the NFL in sacks from their linebacking corps.

2009 GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
•Registered his 2nd career INT at Arz. (9/13). Also had 14 tackles to go along with 2 PDs and 2 TFLs.
•Recorded 2nd career INT return for a TD, returning a QB Kyle Boller pass 23 yds. for a TD, while posting a career-high 2.5 sacks to go along with 11 tackles vs. StL (10/4). He became the first player in franchise history, and just the 3rd player in the NFL since the sack became an official statistic in 1982, to tally at least 2.5 sacks and an INT return for a TD in the same game.
•Posted 13 tackles along with 2 FFs vs. Atl. (10/11), marking the first time a 49ers player forced at least 2 fumbles since 1998.
•Registered 13 tackles along with 0.5 sack (QB David Garrard) and 1 PD vs. Jax. (11/29).
•Finished with a season-high 16 tackles along with 2 TFLs at Sea. (12/6).
•Sacked QB Kurt Warner and registered a FF vs. Arz. (12/14).
•Registered an INT, 12 tackles and a PD vs. Det. (12/27).

WILLIS' BIG DAY
LB Patrick Willis had a feeling during the week that when the 49ers hosted St. Louis (10/4), he was going to have a good game. On that Sunday, Willis turned out of the best performances of his career, recording a career-high 2.5 sacks, registering his 3rd career INT and 2nd career INT return for a TD, 11 tackles and 3 TFLs.

Hall of Fame linebacker and head coach Mike Singletary was amazed by the day his Pro Bowl linebacker had vs. St. Louis.

"Wow. Just wow would be the only thing I can say, wow because he has so much talent," Singletary said. "He just has to tie his talent and knowledge together and that’s where he’s going to take it to the next level."

Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, Patrick Willis is the first player in team history and just the 3rd player in the NFL to record at least 2.5 sacks and an INT return for a TD in the same game.

While Willis understands the game he had, he makes sure to keep things in perspective and follow his coach’s philosophy of trying to get better everyday.

"Every day is a work day for me and that is what makes football so fun," Willis said. "You never are just great and when you are you can settle down, but you are never great until you are done playing. Hopefully for me that will not be for a long time from now so every day, until that day happens, I am going to come into work and work hard."

GOLDMINE:
•One of Patrick’s biggest influences growing up was his uncle Arthur Joe Willis, who was a professional light-heavyweight boxer from 1989-2000, that competed in 33 pro fights. Patrick looked up to his uncle because he was able to make a name for himself as a successful boxer. Arthur matched up against James “Lights Out” Toney in 1990, and Toney later went on to beat former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in 2003.

AWARDS & HONORS:
2007: NFC Pro Bowl | AP Rookie Defensive Player of the Year | AP All-Pro | PFW/PFWA All-NFL Team | PFW/PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year | PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team | NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year | NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (October and December) | GMC Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 12 and 16) | Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week (Weeks 1, 2, and 12) | Bill Walsh Award (co-recipient with Nate Clements).
2008: NFC Pro Bowl

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2007-08), was the only rookie to earn All-Pro honors in 2007 as he was named  the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. He became first 49ers defensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro since CB Ronnie Lott in 1981. He joined CB Bruce Taylor (1970), DT Dana Stubblefield (1993) and DT Bryant Young (1994) as 49ers who have won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
•Was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for October 2007 after totaling 43 tackles, and for December after amassing 53 stops, 3 sacks, 1 FF and 1 PD.
•Was one of three NFL rookies (49ers T Joe Staley and Browns T Joe Thomas) in 2007 to line up for every single snap.
•According to statistics compiled by Elias Sports Bureau, his 174 total tackles in 2007 led the NFL by more than 30 tackles, while his 141 stops in 2008 ranked 2nd (behind Browns D’Qwell Jackson’s 154 tackles).

2008
•Led the team with 185 tackles as he earned Pro Bowl honors for second consecutive season.
•At Sea. (9/14), recorded first career INT, returning a QB Matt Hasselbeck pass for an 86-yd. TD, which is the longest INT return by a 49ers linebacker. The previous best was a 56-yd. TD return by LB John Johnson at NYG (9/6/92).
•Posted 13 tackles, 2 PDs, and 1 FR at NO (9/28). His FR occurred at the 49ers 3-yd. line to prevent a Saints score.
•Tallied 4th career 20-plus tackle game after finishing with a team-high 22 stops vs. NE (10/6), which also included a sack.
•Registered 16 tackles, 1 FF and 1 PD at Buf. (11/30).
•Tallied 16 tackles, which included 2 key stops on Rams final drive to preserve the 17-16 come-from-behind victory at StL (12/24).

2007
•Earned starting role in training camp and totaled 226 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 FR and 6 PDs. Received numerous accolades, including Defensive Rookie of the Year, All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
•Led defense with 15 tackles to go along with 1 FF and 1 PD in season-opener vs. Arz. (9/10) and was named Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week.
•Recorded a franchise-record 21 tackles to go along with a half sack and 1 PD at Arz. (11/25). In a defining moment, ran down WR Sean Morey from behind in OT to prevent him from scoring game-winning TD after a 62-yd. gain. Was named the GMC Defensive Player of the Week and the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week for his efforts.
•Posted 20 tackles at Car. (12/2), marking 2nd consecutive game in which he tallied 20 tackles-or-more.
•Registered 10 tackles and 1 FR vs. Min. (12/9) in helping defense hold NFL’s then-leading rusher RB Adrian Peterson to 3 yds. on 14 carries.
•Totaled 20 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF and 1 PD vs. TB (12/23) and was named GMC Defensive Player of the Week. It marked his first career multi-sack game.
•Closed out season at Cle. (12/23) with 16 tackles, 1 sack and 1 PD.

COLLEGE:
Saw action in 45 games with 22 starts, totaling 355 tackles, 11 sacks, 5 FFs and 1 INT during career at Mississippi. Became first Ole Miss player to lead SEC in tackles (128 in 2005 and 137 in 2006) since Abdul Jackson posted 139 in 1994. His 137 tackles ranked 7th on school’s season-record list. Named Butkus Award winner in 2006, becoming first player in school history to earn award. Named All-Southern Conference first-team All-SEC and SEC Defensive Player of the Year by Associated Press and league’s coaches as a senior after starting 12 games and posting 137 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 FR and 7 PDs. Tallied at least 10 tackles in 11 contests. Earned South Team Defensive MVP honors at 2007 Senior Bowl, leading all players with 11 stops to go along with 1 FF. Named first-team All-SEC as a junior, leading team with 128 tackles to go along with 3 sacks, 1 INT and 4 PDs.

PERSONAL:
•Attended Central (Bruceton, TN) HS, where he earned Class “A” Mr. Football honors and was a two-time All-State choice, helping lead team to 2001 and 2002 Regional Championship and State Quarterfinals.
•Totaled 494 tackles, 23 sacks and 13 INTs (6 returned for TDs) on defense, while tallying 276 carries for 2,486 yds. with 39 TDs and 51 catches for 946 yds. with 17 TDs on offense.
•Also earned 4 letters in basketball and 3 in baseball, garnering all-district in each sport.
•Born Patrick L. Willis (1/25/85) in Bruceton, TN.
•Majored in liberal arts.