The 49ers have a long history of standout players at the linebacker position, and it continues to this day. Fred Warner has quite a ways to go before he can lay claim to being the best ever to do it for San Francisco, but he has gotten the attention of someone who probably can.
Patrick Willis was as good of a linebacker as there was in the NFL throughout his decorated eight-year career, and as a semi-finalist for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame, he left a mark on the sport beyond the bruises he doled out to countless opponents. He keeps a close eye on the only team he ever played for, and has been impressed with San Francisco's current Pro Bowl-caliber middle linebacker.
"He’s on his way to being a heck of a player," Willis said of Warner to Niners Nation's Jas Kang. "I don’t want to get too far ahead, but he’s going to have a great career."
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Currently in his third NFL season, Warner still is in the beginning phases of his professional career, but there's ample reason as why Willis is so optimistic about his future. Warner has taken his game up several notches and finally has begun to receive some deserved recognition as one of the best defensive players in the league. He is Pro Football Focus' fifth-best graded linebacker on the season to date and it would be an absolute shock if he wasn't selected to his first Pro Bowl when it's all over.
Once he does, he'll only need six more Pro Bowl selections to match Willis. It's a high mark to aim for, but Warner has shown he has the talent to be able to do it.
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In many ways, Warner is a similar player to Willis. They're both tackling machines and tremendous leaders. But as Willis explained, they go about their business in different ways.
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"I like his edge," Willis added. "When I played, I made a tackle, got back up on my feet and was like, ‘Let’s go, we gotta go make another tackle,’ it was like being in a battle. I see him out there and man, he just commands the defense, he’s flying around, and he’s doing it with what we call swag."
Willis' Hall of Fame selection is a formality at this point. If Warner can have the kind of career Willis expects him to have, he just might end up in Canton, too.