"Wow," Willis can be heard saying. "There was a time when one person offered to make me a yellow jacket, and it was in symbolism that, one day, I would perhaps be able to have the real one. But until then, I would have that. But to be holding this, it's beyond words."
You can watch it below.
Throughout his career, Willis recorded 950 tackles, 60 tackles for loss, 41 quarterback hits, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions, two touchdowns, 53 passes defensed, and 16 forced fumbles. He exceeded 100 tackles in six of his eight seasons and led the league in tackles twice, as a rookie in 2007 and again in 2009.
Willis helped lead the team to three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance in the 2012 season. He retired after the 2014 season due to persistent injury concerns, ending his legendary NFL career earlier than fans hoped.
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.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers training camp: Four draft picks to watch closely this summer
With San Francisco 49ers rookies officially reporting to the SAP Performance Facility on July 18, all eyes will be on the team's newest draft class as first-year players look to prove they can contribute during the 2026 NFL season. The good news for the 49ers is that there are... -
49ers roster battles: The undrafted rookie sleepers to watch
Every year, one or two undrafted rookies force the San Francisco 49ers to rethink their roster. From Matt Breida and Emmanuel Moseley to Jordan Mason, Jeff Wilson, Jr., and Azeez Al-Shaair, the 49ers have seen rookies earn opportunities after entering the league without hearing... -
49ers defense: PFF praises the underrated move that changes everything
The San Francisco 49ers' acquisition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans dominated offseason headlines. However, Pro Football Focus (PFF) believes another move deserves far more attention: the trade for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. According to PFF's Bradley Locker,... -
49ers' Brock Purdy left out of ESPN's top-10 quarterback rankings
The debate over where San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy ranks among the NFL's elite continues. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler continued his annual NFL position rankings this week, unveiling his list of the league's top quarterbacks. The rankings are based on feedback from NFL...