Patrick Willis will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, but the San Francisco 49ers legend has already received his gold jacket.
Willis was presented with his jacket on Friday, receiving it from another Hall of Famer who was instrumental in his stellar career.
The former 49ers linebacker collected his jacket from Mike Singletary, the Chicago Bears legend who was Willis' position coach when he was drafted by San Francisco in 2007.
Singletary would serve in that role until midway through the 2008 season, when he was promoted to interim head coach following the firing of Mike Nolan. He then had the interim tag removed but was fired before the end of 2010 season.
But Singletary is credited with laying the foundation for the success of the Jim Harbaugh era by raising the standards with a 7-9 finish in 2008 and an 8-8 campaign in 2009.
There is no doubting his influence on Willis, who was Defensive Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-Pro in his first season under Singletary's coaching. He made the Pro Bowl for seven successive seasons, only failing to do so in his eighth and ultimately final year. Willis was a five-time first-team All-Pro and a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team.
As such, there could be no better person to present Willis with his jacket, and he will have another of his former coaches in attendance in Canton on Saturday when he is enshrined.
Now Los Angeles Chargers coach Harbugh is chartering a flight for him and several members of the Chargers organization with ties to his 49ers team, including tight end Delanie Walker and Willis' former running mate at middle linebacker, Na'Vorro Bowman .
Bowman is now the linebackers coach for the Chargers, his partnership with Willis having been crucial to the 49ers' run of success under Harbaugh in the early 2010s.
Also on the Harbaugh flight will be former 49ers center Jonathan Goodwin, guard Mike Iupati, defensive lineman/fullback Will Tukuafu and safety Dashon Goldson, all of whom were part of that team and are now members of the Chargers organization. Goldson was previously a diversity coaching fellow with the 49ers.
“Just truly full of smiles and just very appreciative that he would take this time right now out of his busy schedule,’’ Willis told The Athletic when asked about Harbaugh traveling to Canton on the Chargers' off day.
"I know his commitment to the 49ers and his commitment to me was a long time ago. And now he’s in a new place. So just to take the time as he is, it really means a lot."
Given the length of his career, Willis wasn't seen as a sure thing to make the Hall of Fame despite his incredible standard of play. But he will take his place in Canton this weekend and, between Singletary, Harbaugh and a host of his former teammates, is getting to share the experience with a plethora of people crucial to his journey.
Related: Kyle Shanahan explains the Brandon Aiyuk greeting that sparked speculation about an agreement with 49ers
Local San Francisco, CA
Most Popular
Comments / 0