Summary: He is an NFL football player who plays inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. After a 10-year drought, he is partly responsible for helping his team reach the playoffs this season. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers, in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Mississippi. During his senior season at Ole Miss, he was awarded the Butkus Award and the Jack Lambert Award as the nation’s top linebacker. A year later as a member of the 49ers, he led the NFL in tackles, earned First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors while being named the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in all five years he has played in the NFL. He is the only player to receive the Butkus Award for best linebacker in more than one category. He is regarded by many as the best inside linebacker in professional football. <br><br> He says of his faith, "My grandmother was a big influence on my life. Through her, I learned about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. My grandmother always told us about faith and always put us in church." When he joined the San Francisco team five seasons ago, they were a losing team. But he never doubted that's where God wanted him to play. He recalls the prayer he prayed just before the NFL draft, he said, "Lord, you know I don't know where I'm going to go. I've done everything I could possibly do to put myself in the best situation. Wherever you bless me to go, that's where I'm going to play the best football I can possibly play. Whatever happens on this day, it's your will." He goes further to say, "No matter the outcome of a game, my No.1 goal is to glorify God. I always pray, Lord, I don't know what today's game is going to be like, but I pray that you bless me to go out here and play for you. Be a soldier for your army, go out here and lead this team the way you want me to lead it." His name is Patrick Willis.
