Half an hour ago (ok, the news leaked yesterday), Patrick Willis shocked the football world when he retired after eight years in the league.
As I sit hear watching NFL Network, they are having the same debate that was my first thought–was Patrick Willis a Hall of Famer?
We’ll update this post in a few minutes, but we wanted to start getting comments from our Hall of Fame community, since we think this is amongst the most informed Hall of Fame communities online…
Willis was a starter for the 49ers from Day one after being selected 11th overall in 2007, after a strong performance at the NFL Combine.
He amassed an incredible 174 tackles in his rookie season, along with four sacks. Over his first seven seasons, he only missed six games, and he compiled over 900 tackles and 20.5 sacks. In 2014, he ended his season after six games due to an injury to his toe that required surgery.
In his career, he was named to 7 Pro Bowls, voted first team All-Pro five times (and one second team), led the NFL in tackles twice, was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, was a three time NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year (whatever that is), was twice named the 49ers MVP, and was in the NFL Top 100 as named by NFL Network each year since they started naming the list in 2011.
Our initial take at Zoneblitz (without consulting with the rest of the team) is that, while Willis was a dominant player, his career was just too short–certainly for a first year induction, possibly at all. He will be on the border, but I don’t see Willis as having been a truly “transformative” player in the league’s history, which at basically seven years, I think he would have had to have been to make it.
Time will tell–he’s on the clock for the Class of 2020, if my math is right (which itself is a 50-50 shot)…
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Patrick Willis isn’t a first Ballot Hall of Fame player. My argument is due to Zach Thomas. Zach Thomas hasn’t cracked the finalist list yet despite having 7 pro bowls, 5 times on the first all pro team and is on the 2000’s 2nd all decade team.
I am mentioning Zach Thomas due to the the fact Patrick Willis has 7 pro bowls and 5 all pros. The only difference is Zach played longer. Patrick Willis was a great Linebacker, but I can’t say he changed the game like Dick Butkus did.
I think Patrick Willis will be a some point like Zach Thomas is going to be. Zach Thomas issue not getting a look is due to Seau and Kevin Greene. Seau is in now with Kevin being very likely to get in 2016 class.
I could be wrong about Patrick Willis and Zach Thomas getting in before the Senior Committee due to what happened to Randy Gradishar. The only differences between Gradishar with Willis and Thomas is the amount of first team all pros those 2 have compare to Gradishar and Gradishar actually was defensive player of the year once.
Patrick Willis was on pace to be a first ballot HOFer. Patrick Willis may have a similar resume to Zach Thomas, But Patrick was the leader of a very good defense that was the key to 3 straight title games.
Footage and technology is more prevalent and more advanced than in Gradishar’s day, too. I’d put all three in.
Brad, it is true that Patrick Willis was on pace to be a fist Ballot Hall of Hofer.
The problem is you can’t say that anymore since he’s retired and is why I did a Zach Thomas Comparison instead of a Mike Singletary comparison. 7 Pro Bowls at the inside linebacker spot isn’t enough for the Hall of Fame for a first ballot even with 5 first time team all pros. Zach Thomas even has been considered by some Hall of Fame voters.
The argument over 3 straight title games really doesn’t hold much water since Donovan Mcnabb Lead the Eagles to 4 straight division conference championship games that included a super bowl. Donovan lead the Eagles to 5 NFC Championships and there isn’t much hall of fame talk with him.
Pro-football Reference matter of stats the career of Patrick Willis is similar to Randy Gradishar, Jack Lambert, Greg Lloyd, Pat Swilling, Karl Mecklenburg, Zach Thomas, James Harrison, Bart Scott, Sam Mills and Chad Brown in terms of quality and shape.
I never said he would make it first ballot. I simply stated he was on pace.
I’m comparing Willis to Thomas not to McNabb. And McNabb was never considered best at his position. Patrick has been at least 5 times.
Given the tens of millions very good (or even average!) players can make after just 8 or 9 years in the league, with the significant health issues better understood including concussions, whether we may see many more early career retirements. Just in recent days see how many players are leaving the game before the age of 30. Perhaps Willis is reflective of an emerging trend.
Yes, Willis gets in but waits a few years because of short career.