49ers modern great among players nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility

This year, San Francisco 49ers legend Patrick Willis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Now, three of his former 49ers teammates have been nominated to potentially follow in his footsteps in their first year of eligibility for Canton.

Joe Staley, the 49ers' mainstay at left tackle since being selected in the first round in 2007, and tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker are the players eligible for the first time who feature among the 167 modern-era nominees for this year's class.

Below is the full list of former 49ers on the list modern-era nominees:

• QB Jeff Garcia 
• RB Ricky Watters 
• WR Anquan Boldin 
• TE Vernon Davis 
• TE Delanie Walker
• OT Joe Staley 
• DE Justin Smith 
• DT Ted Washington
• LB NaVorro Bowman 
• LB Ken Norton Jr. 
• LB Julian Peterson 
• LB Bill Romanowski 
• LB Takeo Spikes 
• LB Lee Woodall
• S Antoine Bethea 
• DB Allen Rossum 
• K David Akers
• K Gary Anderson

Staley probably has the best chance of any player on that list. A three-time second-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Staley's resume is inflated by two Super Bowl appearances and his place on the 2010s All-Decade Team.

Linebacker Willis, who was also a first-round pick by the Niners in 2007 and a member of that All-Decade Team, was inducted this year despite only playing eight seasons in the NFL. Staley's longevity in playing 13 seasons is a major point in his favor, however, unlike Willis, he cannot claim to have been the absolute best at his position during his career.

Still, Staley's case is a good one, but with the likes of Eli Manning, surprise 2024 snub Antonio Gates, Marshal Yanda and Luke Kuechly among this year's long list of nominees, his potential enshrinement in Canton may take some time to come.