Seven of the “Greatest of the Game” have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 and Bruceton’s Patrick Willis is on the list. Willis played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2007-2014.
Patrick Willis’ Stats:
Times as Finalist: 2 | Year of eligibility: 5
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 242
NFL Career: 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
Seasons: 8 | Games: 112
College: Mississippi
Drafted: 1st Round (11th Overall), 2007
Born: Jan. 25, 1985, in Bruceton, Tenn.
Immediate starter for 49ers after joining team as 11th overall selection in 2007 NFL Draft … Totaled 174 tackles, four sacks, seven QB hits and eight tackles for loss in earning 2007 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Award … Named first-team All-Pro five times in eight NFL seasons (2007, 2009, 2010-12) … Selected to Pro Bowl following seven consecutive seasons (2007-2013) … Won NFL’s version of the Butkus Award (then in its second year) in 2009, following his best season statistically overall: 152 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, eight pass deflections and career-bests of three interceptions and 13 tackles for loss … Won the Bill Walsh Award in 2009 as the 49ers’ most valuable player … Contributed 10 tackles in Super Bowl XLVII loss to Baltimore Ravens … Career stats include 20.5 sacks, 60 tackles for loss, eight interceptions and 16 forced fumbles. … Named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s.
The Class of 2024 presented by Visual Edge IT was announced during “NFL Honors,” a two-hour primetime awards special that aired nationally tonight on NFL Network, CBS and Paramount+. The newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are defensive end/outside linebacker DWIGHT FREENEY, linebacker RANDY GRADISHAR kick returner/punt returner/wide receiver DEVIN HESTER wide receiver ANDRE JOHNSON, defensive tackle/nose tackle STEVE McMICHAEL,defensive end/linebacker JULIUS PEPPERS.
Freeney, Gradishar, Hester, Johnson, Peppers and Willis learned of their election when another Hall of Famer knocked on their door.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 will be enshrined in Canton in August. (Dates are tentative.)
The 2024 Enshrinement Week will include:
- Thursday, Aug. 1: Hall of Fame Game (teams to be determined)
- Friday, Aug. 2: Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner
- Saturday, Aug. 3: Class of 2024 Enshrinement
- Sunday, Aug. 4: Concert for Legends featuring Carrie Underwood
For more information, visit www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/(Opens in a new window).