On Tuesday morning, it was announced that former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis has advanced to the semifinalist round for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. From an original list of 173 nominees, 25 modern-era candidates have been selected.
This marks the third consecutive year that Willis has advanced in the selection process.
Two other former 49ers players, running back Ricky Watters and wide receiver Anquan Boldin, have also made it to the semifinals.
The 49ers drafted Willis from Ole Miss with the No. 11 overall pick in 2007, and he spent eight seasons with the team before retiring after the 2014 season. During his career, Willis earned seven Pro Bowl selections and five first-team All-Pro honors.
Willis finished his career with 950 tackles, 60 tackles for a loss, 41 quarterback hits, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions, two scores, 53 passes defensed, and 16 forced fumbles. He surpassed 100 tackles in six of his eight seasons and led the league in tackles twice, as a rookie in 2007 and again in 2009.
Named to the NFL All-Decade team of the 2010s, Willis was enshrined in the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. 49ers Hall of Fame in 2021 and entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Watters, a second-round pick (No. 45 overall) out of Notre Dame in 1991, played for the 49ers from 1991 to 1994. He amassed 10,643 rushing yards, 78 touchdowns on 2,622 carries, and contributed 467 receptions for 4,248 yards and 13 touchdowns throughout his career.
Boldin, selected in the second round (No. 54 overall) out of Florida State by the Arizona Cardinals in 2003, played for the 49ers from 2013 to 2015. Over his career, he caught 1,076 passes for 13,779 yards and 82 touchdowns.
The current list of 25 semifinalists will eventually be narrowed down to 15 finalists. The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be announced before the Super Bowl.
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