Willis Named 2009 NFL Alumni LB of the Year
Posted by Scott Kegley on January 6, 2010 – 5:08 PM
49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is going to his third Pro Bowl in three NFL seasons, but today he added another award. He was chosen by the NFL Alumni as the single best linebacker in football.
The NFL alumni voted for their contemporary counterparts in the same position group in which they played.
The 2009 awardees will be honored at the 28th annual Player of the Year Awards Dinner presented by Samsung, to be held Friday evening, Feb. 5 in Hollywood, Fla. During the awards ceremony, each awardee will receive his NFL Alumni Player of the Year award from a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who once played the same position.
Here is the full list of the honorees:
OFFENSE
Quarterback – Drew Brees (Saints)
Running Back – Chris Johnson (Titans)
Wide Receiver – Andre Johnson (Texans)
Tight End – Dallas Clark (Colts)
Offensive Lineman – Steve Hutchinson (Vikings)
DEFENSE
Defensive Lineman – Jared Allen (Vikings)
Pass Rusher – Elvis Dumervil (Broncos)
Linebacker – Patrick Willis
Defensive Back – Charles Woodson (Packers)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special Teams Player – Joshua Cribbs (Browns)
COACH
Coach – Sean Payton (Saints)
Tags: Patrick Willis
Posted in Breaking News | 22 Comments »
22 Responses
to “Willis Named 2009 NFL Alumni LB of the Year”
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By Turtle Hannah on Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
Patrick “The Brick Wall” Willis is my favorite 49er (behind the great Jerry Rice of course) and I couldn’t agree more with the nomination he has received. Congrats Pat!
By Niner Jan on Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
YES! Before the last game was played, I dropped off MY PERSONAL MVP choices at the 49ers Facility. Guess whom I picked. Patrick Willis as MVP-D and Frank Gore as MVP-O.
Niner Mom
By mike duarte on Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
Vern had a better season than dallas clark, poor choice in my eyes
By Jesse on Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
Patrick “What You Talking Bout!” Willis! I knew this guy was something special back when the 9ers drafted him with the first pick back in 2007. It seems like he’s involved in almost every play. I hope he plays for the 49ers his whole career. Players like him come only few & far in between. I’m predicting that he’ll one day be considered one of the greatest players to suit up. Keep up the great play. Looking forward to seeing him play for many more years to come. I wear his jersey with pride. 52 all the way. And don’t no one use my nickname i have for Patrick as you know were you heard it first. Niner Empire! They’ll add a new Super Bowl Championship soon. Let’s get that sixth one. 94′ seems so long ago.
By 49er-for-life on Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
Congrats to Pat Willis for the award….I think VD should have gotten it for tight end….Look at the numbers…Tied Antonio Gates’ record for TDs and was tied with Randy Moss for the league lead….come on….VD over Dallas any day
By The Rock on Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
Patrick deserves this award… he is just great !……….
By drock49 on Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be
By sf49erfan4life on Jan 7, 2010 | Reply
because he is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By John Critser on Jan 7, 2010 | Reply
Just when beloved Hall of Fame bound Bryant Young retired, another great player comes into the fold- Patrick Willis! What a relief!
By J. on Jan 7, 2010 | Reply
I’m not surprised. The man is the best linebacker in the league every game of the season, now he is just getting an award to prove it! P -dub is the man!
By St. Vin on Jan 7, 2010 | Reply
P-Will is an extraordinary football player because he is a half-God.
I am so glad he is ours.
Congrat buddy, you deserve it !!!
49ers-4ver
By KezarGeezer on Jan 7, 2010 | Reply
P-Willy is awesome, no doubting that. Who were the alumni, specifically, that voted, I wonder. It’d be interesting to learn which great linebacker(s) hold #52 in such high esteem.
By Deezy on Jan 7, 2010 | Reply
WHERE ARE THE VOTES FOR VERNON!?!?!?
By Deezy on Jan 7, 2010 | Reply
Oops, and CONGRATS PATRICK!!!!! You are the heart and soul of our defense. Please stay with us!!!! Lol
By Amrinder on Jan 7, 2010 | Reply
Great Job Mr. Willis. I beleive you are going to be lot better than the greatness you have shown so far. Some day we would like to remember you as a single player who played LB position better than anyone has in the past.
By 49erfan tx on Jan 8, 2010 | Reply
my boy vernon should have bee there to, but its cool Josh Morgan and crabtree will be there soon.
By adrian49er on Jan 9, 2010 | Reply
patrick willis is gonna be better than ray lewis because he plays with heart just like his mentor lewis
By KLS49er on Jan 9, 2010 | Reply
Congratulations Mr. Patrick (Who You Tackling Now) Willis… You are a quality person, who exemplifies an Old School approach to the game. Don’t change, stay humble, and keep making your Family, Friends, team mates, and Fans proud, and Great things will happen to you and your team…. GO NINERS>>>>
By Keith Wood on Jan 9, 2010 | Reply
Congrats Willis! You rock baby! Now if we can just get the head office to pull their heads out of their butts and get a real OC, maybe we can be in the playoffs next year.
What makes me laugh is, last year Jimmy Raye was the OC for the Jets. He couldn’t make it work even with a real veteran QB in Brett Farve. Now the jets let him go and get Marty’s Shotenhimers boy as OC and a rookie head coach and a ROOKIE QB, not only do they make the playoffs, the won their first playoff game together in Cincy. What do we do? Hire their dead beat OC to run our offense!
If we ever get a real OC with imagination, creativity and the ability to create in game maybe we can give our defensive star a chance at a ring.
By GAX on Jan 11, 2010 | Reply
He’s the best at his position for dam sure! Singletary Molded Dude…and the rest of our D is solid too….all we need is Alex Smith to start 16 games….Crabtree, Vernon, and Gore wiill take care of the rest…NINERS 2010-11 Champs
By C.J. Harvey on Jan 11, 2010 | Reply
Vernon Davis should be over Dallas Clark for TE’s
By cali530 on Jan 11, 2010 | Reply
Patrick Willis is a Beast.
Dallas Clark i dont agree with that how about Vernon Davis