With former Los Angeles Charger Philip Rivers coming out of retirement, NFL Hall of Famer and former San Francisco 49er linebacker Patrick Willis isn’t ruling out a return. Many fans and those within the league are now speculating who will be the next athlete to play one more season, and that might be Willis. CBS Sports’ Matt Lively sat with the veteran and was asked if he’s open to coming back to the NFL, considering that Rivers has returned.
“I’ve been asked this question, and truthfully, what I would say is stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready,” Willis said.
An interesting choice of words for Willis, who has been out of the league longer than Rivers. Originally selected 2007 NFL Draft as a first-round pick, the former Ole Miss product is younger than Rivers at 40 years old. However, the last time that Willis played a snap in the league was over a decade ago. This means wiping off the dust will take time for the linebacker to get himself back in football shape.
NFL Hall of Famer Patrick Willis Open to a Shocking Return – Will Anyone Be Interested?
However, the fact that he mentioned to always “stay ready” doesn’t entirely close out a future return. Despite that, the 49ers could use the presence of Willis in the right situation. While the offense has been able to stay healthy for at least the past few games, the team has lost several pieces on defense. San Francisco lost Fred Warner and Nick Bosa to season-ending injuries, while missing out on Tatum Bethune and Nick Martin, so they need all the help they can get.
However, nobody should guarantee a return, but if he does, here are some other teams who could target him.
Other Potential Suitors
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens could miss the postseason with two more losses, but they’re still in it. Despite their loss to the Steelers due to a controversial call, nobody should put the Ravens on the back burner. However, the Ravens thrive on having a veteran presence on their roster, such as Kyle Van Noy and Nnamdi Madubuike. This means they could use some nostalgia out of Willis to finally bring them to a Super Bowl appearance to set themselves apart from the competition.
After trading for Dre’Mont Jones, the Ravens aren’t afraid of strengthening the defense if there’s a void. While all of their starting linebackers are healthy, they’d still benefit from Willis in a crucial postseason appearance.
Dallas Cowboys
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys had one of the worst defenses this season. In attempts to find relief, the Cowboys traded for Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson, and while that did change things, it hasn’t drastically improved the bigger issue. They can’t stop the easy, quick dot passes, so they’d be in need of a rotating linebacker like Willis to make a stop. Recently acquired, Kenneth Murray Jr. started with a promise in 2025, but is slowly losing his role to Wilson, so why not get Willis in the same room to find relief?
Houston Texans
After their statement win over Kansas City, the Houston Texans are ranked the No. 1 defense in the league. Defense wins championships, so the Texans’ signing Willis would be a no-brainer. The interior defensive line is probably the best unit, and Willis could effectively make an impact alongside Azeez Al-Shaair and EJ Speed down the middle.
The post “Stay Ready, So You Don’t Have to Get Ready” – Another NFL Hall of Famer Open to a Shocking Return appeared first on Last Word on NFL.