Football fans are anxiously awaiting the start of a new season, and while preseason games typically don’t get the job done, those in Mississippi might want to tune in to the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night.
Patrick Willis, a former Ole Miss linebacker who went on to be one of professional football’s greatest to ever line up in the box, will be honored during the preseason affair between the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans. The game, which will be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, kicks off a weekend that ends in Willis and six others being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Willis was announced in February as a member of this year’s class nearly nine years after he took his final snap with the San Francisco 49ers. A career that many considered short, Willis may have had more production in eight seasons than any other player has managed to have in the history of the game.
Before his injury-induced retirement in 2014, Willis was named a Pro Bowler seven times while garnering five first-team All Pro selections. As soon as he arrived to San Francisco, the Bruceton, Tenn., native proved he was elite. As a rookie in 2007, he led the league with 174 tackles and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. He became the first rookie named first-team All Pro since Dick Butkus.
In 2009, he led the league in tackles yet again and finished his career with six 100-tackle seasons and five 120-tackle seasons. In his eight seasons, he led the league in tackles over that period, along with tying for the league lead in forced fumbles and finishing second in passes knocked down.
Willis is joined by Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Steve McMichael, and Julius Peppers in the 2024 class. Each will have their name officially enshrined into the Hall on Saturday, Aug. 3 but will also be celebrated during Thursday’s game.
Kickoff between Chicago and Houston is set for 7 p.m. CT and can be watched on ESPN and ABC.
