It’s been an offseason of change for the San Francisco 49ers, though Sunday was a day that may live in infamy for the franchise and not in a good way.
Not only is Frank Gore is expected to leave in free agency to join the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Colin Kaepernick is said to be on the trade block. As if that wasn’t enough, seven-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis – the heart and soul of the 49ers defense – is strongly considering retirement after a ‘religious awakening’.
Willis has experienced a religious awakening of sorts, according to a source, and has decided to hang up his cleats as a result. Whispers surfaced late last week that the 49ers would be losing one of their most prized players unexpectedly. The player they are losing could not have been more important.
Just 30-years-old, Patrick Willis has plenty of football left in his body but he is coming off a relatively serious injury that forced him to miss the majority of the 2014 season. Perhaps sitting out gave the former Ole Miss star time to contemplate his future, though few would have ever believed he’d opt to retire this early in his career.
Willis and the 49ers have yet to comment on the speculation.
