Patrick Willis signed a 5-year, $50 million contract extension through the 2016 season with the San Fransisco 49ers today according to Jay Glazer. Jason La Canfora reports that the contract includes $29 million in guaranteed money. The extension makes Willis one of the sport's richest defensive players, and its highest paid inside linebacker.
Patrick Willis, 49ers Agree To Terms On Lucrative Contract Extension
Both Willis and the team had refused to talk about the specifics of a contract extension, even after the Texans signed Demeco Ryans, a player with similar age and experience to Willis, to a $48 million extension just over a month ago.
Willis, 25, has been one of the most productive linebackers in the NFL since the the 49ers made him the 11th overall selection in the 2007 Draft. He has been to the Pro-bowl in each of his three seasons and has twice been named First Team All-pro. Willis sports an impressive average of a shade over 155 total tackles per season, in addition to career totals of nine sacks, four INTs, and six forced fumbles.
That sound you are hearing is a considerable sigh of relief from the bay area football fans. The extension puts to bed any worry that the 49ers would lose their best defensive player after his rookie contract expired following the 2011 season.
Check our 49ers blog Niners Nation for details, quotes, and reaction from plenty of very, very happy 49er fans.
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