NFL News: San Francisco 49ers LB Patrick Willis Planning To Retire

The San Francisco 49ers may be losing another key player in linebacker Patrick Willis just days after choosing to extend veteran running back Frank Gore in the latest offseason news in the National Football League, or NFL.

According to a source of Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports, the team is expecting the 30 year old Willis to make an announcement regarding his retirement from the NFL.It’s not 100 percent.”

Willis, like Gore, has played all of his NFL playing years with the 49ers after getting drafted as the 11th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Willis has made the NFL Pro Bowl seven times and the NFL All-Pro First Team five teams.

In his eight year NFL career, Willis is credited with 950 tackles, 20.5 quarterback sacks, 16 forced fumbles and 8 interceptions. Willis was also the NFL’s tackles leader in 2007 and 2009. Earlier in the offseason, the 49ers lost Gore to free agency as the ten year veteran is reportedly leaving San Francisco and will sign a deal with either the Philadelphia Eagles or Indianapolis Colts. No deal is final until the league season opens on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, another defensive player for the 49ers is also considering retirement. Defensive lineman Justin Smith told the Sacramento Bee on Monday that he’ll decide by “next week” if he will continue playing football or retire from the game.

San Francisco will now look for options to replace Willis if the retirement is true. Chris Borland, a second year player is the likely replacement for Willis in the starting line-up as Borland played well in Willis’ absence due to injuries. Except for an injury-plagued 2014 season, Willis has played in 13 or more games for San Francisco in his first seven years with the team.

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