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PLAYER BIO6-1 | 240 | MISSISSIPPI | 5TH YEAR | BORN 1.25.85 | BRUCETON, TNACQUIRED D-1A IN ‘07 | CENTRAL HS, BRUCETON, TNIn a limited amount of time Patrick Willis has establishedhimself as a household name and an annualcandidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Yearhonors with superman-like performances week-inand week-out, having led the NFL in tackles in twoof his first four NFL seasons. As the 11th-overall selectionin the 2007 NFL Draft, Willis made an immediateimpact as a rookie, earning All-Pro, Pro Bowl andNFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He keptthe accolades flowing by earning Pro Bowl recognitionin 2008, 2009 and 2010. Willis joined S Ronnie Lottas the only 49ers players to earn Pro Bowl honorsin each of their first four seasons. The leader of the49ers defense was rewarded with a lucrative fiveyearcontract extension that will keep him in the BayArea through 2016.// TRANSACTIONSOriginally the first of two 1st-round (11th pick overall)draft choices by SF in 2007... Signed a five-yearcontract through 2016 on 5/4/10.// AWARDS & HONORS2007: NFC Pro Bowl, AP Rookie Defensive Player of the Year, AP All-Pro, PFW/PFWA All-NFL Team, PFW/PFWA Defensive Rookie ofthe Year, PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team, NFL Alumni Linebackerof the Year, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (October andDecember), GMC Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 12 and16), Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week (Weeks 1, 2, and 12), BillWalsh Award (co-recipient with Nate Clements)2008: NFC Pro Bowl, AP Second-team All-Pro2009: NFC Pro Bowl, AP All-Pro, The Sporting News - All-Pro Defense,PFW/PFWA All-NFL Team, 2009 NFL Alumni Linebacker of theYear, Bill Walsh Award, NFL Butkus Award2010: NFC Pro Bowl, AP All-Pro, 2010 NFL Alumni Linebacker of theYear// GOLDMINE• In 2007 and 2009, Patrick was named the recipient of the 49ersBill Walsh Award. The Bill Walsh Award is voted on by the coachesand awarded to the 49ers team MVP. Frank is one of two players infranchise history to win the award twice (RB Frank Gore).• Tragedy struck Patrick’s family right before his senior year at OleMiss. His brother, Detris, drowned in a swimming hole when he wasjust 17 years old. Detris was a talented FB/LB who was heading intohis senior year at Central High School and was a Division I-A prospect.In memory of his late brother, Patrick had the Superman shieldtattooed on his chest. “We both loved Superman growing up. Wewere strong no matter what, but also had our weaknesses.” BelowPatrick’s Superman tattoo reads, “My brother shall rise again.” “I believesomeday when my time on earth is over, I’ll see him again.”• Patrick has a variety of tattoos, with each carrying its own specialmeaning. One of his most inspirational tattoos is the word ‘Believe’on his forearm. “When a person says ‘I think,’ I feel that leaves roomfor doubt. If I want to do something, I want to ‘believe’ I can do it, notjust think.” Patrick has three tear drop tattoos, which signify threesignificant people that have passed away in his life – his grandfather,uncle and brother.• One of Patrick’s biggest influences growing up was his uncle, ArthurJoe Willis, who was a professional light-heavyweight boxer from1989-2000 and competed in 33 pro fights. Patrick looked up to hisuncle because he was able to make a name for himself as a successfulboxer. Arthur matched up against James “Lights Out” Toney in1990, and Toney later went on to beat former heavyweight championEvander Holyfield in 2003.• Patrick and his siblings were separated from his biological fatherwhen he was 16. He moved in with his guardians, the Finleys, whowere in their 20’s when they took in Patrick and his three other siblings.Chris Finley was a math teacher and Patrick’s basketball coachin high school. Julie Finley taught 5th grade. He refers to Chris andJulie as mom and dad.• One would think growing up in a small town of 1,500 people wouldn’tprovide much of a fan spotlight for young athletes. However, thiswas not the case for Patrick during his childhood in Bruceton, TN.“Growing up in such a small town, sports would turn into these bigevents, whether it was football, baseball or basketball. Everybodywould come out to see you play.”• Competition is what has driven Patrick throughout his life. “I loveto compete, no matter what sport it is. Basketball, baseball, football,golf, bowling, fishing, whatever. Basketball was my first love…Iplayed everything, guard, forward, center. In baseball, I played everythingtoo, except for catcher.” Patrick set the record for mosthome runs in Little League. He started playing golf with his dad,Chris Finley, when he was 16. “Even though I’m not too good, I love tocompete.”SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS \\177// MEDIA GUIDE