More detailed stats on PFR’s Hall of fame tracker.
What do you mean? Torch has been passed.
If you mean “is Warner the best in SF history now?” then that’s up for debate imo. Counting stats favor 52, but 54 is also one of the best cover LBs the league has ever seen.
Epic handshake meme for these 2 > passing the baton meme.
This is kinda like the Kobe vs Tim Duncan debate to me.
Thought Fred passed him in FF
I love the Fredator but I think Pat was just built different.
Willis is a much better tackler and pass rusher. Warner is much better in pass defense. Both are incredible and hall of famers in their own rights
I mean e we can say they are equal now but fred will keep pushing for more 5 years easy
They were/are both the perfect LB for their respective eras. I miss watching P Willis play: Fast, hit like a ton of bricks, diagnosed plays super quick, and solid in coverage no less… absolute stud.
But what torch is being passed?
Fred will have to win a ring to pass Willis. It’s the only way.
Nope, two more greens then yes.
If I put my mind to it, I guess it makes sense, but at first glance I’m surprised he only has 10 sacks.
Fred is awesome.
But Pat was on another level, honestly.
Patrick Willis was unlike any linebacker I’ve ever seen. Dude hit like a train and had a sprint button.
Both phenomenal players, I don’t know why everything has to be hypothetical rankings
Fred is the man, Love the dude to death, but Patrick Willis was the best to ever do it. Nobody dominated the field like Pat. That said, Fred will be right next to him when it is all said and done.
lol Fred doesn’t even have his stats while playing 3 more games. I love Warner but Willis was on another level
1a 1b UNLESS Fred is a super bowl mvp
They’re different players, in slightly different eras, asked to do different things. It’s a great debate at this point. If Fred stays healthy, there won’t be a debate that doesn’t have to include “in their prime” because his longevity will win out in my opinion. Right now I’m still pushing Pat hard. Dude was in talks of being one of the best middles of all time, not just in 49ers history.
He will probably pass pat as having the greatest career just due to longevity but I think pat is closer to the ideal LB prospect so from a talent perspective is better than Fred. It’s just crazy how great our LBs have consistently been, even across different front office regimes.
Definitely getting close. Both are true warriors.
I like Fred but his style of lb compared to Pat is way different. Fred is physical, but Pat was Ray Lewis physical. Fred plays the coverage better than Pat did.
Also remember Pat retired at 30 and lots of his tackles are solos (733) compared to Fred only has (597) Fred racks up assist with (350), Pat is (217).
Sack wise goes to Pat cause Pat was always blitzing in, where Fred is staying in coverage where he shines.
God didn’t know he was this close to Willis stats
Fred dropping several ints this season has me saying no
If Warner has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Warner has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Warner has only one fan then that is me. If Warner has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against Warner, then I am against the world.
It could already be Warner, if we won those superbowls he’d have 2 to pats 1 (again if we won)
One of two things would have to happen for the torch to pass. Fred has to win a SB. Or Pat has to pass it himself.
Ya know what, I’m feeling super grateful right now as a fan from this post.
We’ve witnessed some damn great linebacker play as Niners fans for a long, long time now.
This is a damn good problem to have, debating these two.
Cheers to all.
Pat and Bowman will always and forever be my favorite duo. Bowman had such great instincts. He might not have the same stats as warner and pat but he was a game changer period. The plays he made and when he made them literally changed the outcome of so many games. The pick at the sick is my all time favorite 9ers moment in history! Brought tears to my eyes to watch him be the one to pull off such a amazing play!
Patrick is my favorite forty niner of all time. No one will ever pass him. He’s basically my Joe Montana.
The niners were bad. Like real bad. It used to bum me out so much watching their games, I stopped. I just couldn’t take it. And all those horrible draft picks! I lost my mind at Mike Rumph. The Raiduhs were laughing at us when we took him. The fucking Raiduhs. Not only did the entire NFL know that we were taking a corner (and Philly jumped in front of us to take Lito Sheppard), but we took a corner who couldn’t move his hips. How do you draft a corner who can’t change direction? Pure incompetence.
And then Patrick shows up. A knight in shining armor. A real goddamn motherfucking football player. I remember when I first laid eyes on him, I was blown away by his speed and physicality. Dominance from day 1, and a reason to start watching football again. Honestly I had forgotten what a great player looked like. Thank you Miami for drafting Ted Ginn in front of him! I still remember Keyshawn criticizing that pick, saying Miami just took a punt returner with the ninth overall pick. Sometimes you gotta wonder about the people making decisions on these teams.
Damn Pat was a beast and he retired on top of his game
Both all time 49ers, but Willis was just different. Tough to explain if you didn’t watch it every week for 112 games.
Pat is just a different kinda player. He’s a Mount Rushmore lvl linebacker not just a HOFer. When u ask who are the best 5 LBs ever Willis is there every time. Fred is a walking HOFer already though
I thinks it’s crazy how amazing Patrick Willis was and how short his nfl career really was.
Freddy Wueger is great, probably the best Middle LB of this generation. But I don’t think he’s passed Pat Willis just yet. I think if he continues to play another couple years like this he could, but Willis still got him for now.
Pwillis had AURA. The same aura ray Lewis had. Fred doesn’t have it. We are blessed to have him but it’s like comparing T.O vs Jerry Rice, or Hearst vs Gore
No! They are both elite linebackers at the top of the league and are clearly molded to different eras of the NFL.
They’re both so great. Pwill and Navarro man those two were fucking unstoppable! Warner is amazing too!
Fred is a monster and will be a HOF on this trajectory. But Pat was a different breed. Had he played longer he would’ve gone down as the best LB of all time, and probably was in my biased opinion
No. Fred has speed and can make tackles, but a Willis intimidated and destroyed the opponent.
Why compare? Just enjoy we had Willis and have Warner.
There will never be another player like 52 in red and gold, but I’ll be damned if Warner isn’t climbing the ranks to sit next to him in Canton
Pat was practically a one man show. No comparison. He arguably one of the best 5 linebackers ever! And yes I’m super partial and biased lol
As SF’s best LB ever??
I’m sorry, but NO!
Willis was our Ray Lewis. Teams didnt want to play us because of him. The middle of the field was not safe when Willis was playing. Never gonna be another like him, but fred is great in his own way
45 comments
As best niner LB? Not yet. Fred will get there with one or two more years, but even just looking at base stats fred is chasing with more games.
[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_ILB.htm](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_ILB.htm)
More detailed stats on PFR’s Hall of fame tracker.
What do you mean? Torch has been passed.
If you mean “is Warner the best in SF history now?” then that’s up for debate imo. Counting stats favor 52, but 54 is also one of the best cover LBs the league has ever seen.
Epic handshake meme for these 2 > passing the baton meme.
This is kinda like the Kobe vs Tim Duncan debate to me.
Thought Fred passed him in FF
I love the Fredator but I think Pat was just built different.
Willis is a much better tackler and pass rusher. Warner is much better in pass defense. Both are incredible and hall of famers in their own rights
I mean e we can say they are equal now but fred will keep pushing for more 5 years easy
They were/are both the perfect LB for their respective eras. I miss watching P Willis play: Fast, hit like a ton of bricks, diagnosed plays super quick, and solid in coverage no less… absolute stud.
But what torch is being passed?
Fred will have to win a ring to pass Willis. It’s the only way.
Nope, two more greens then yes.
If I put my mind to it, I guess it makes sense, but at first glance I’m surprised he only has 10 sacks.
Fred is awesome.
But Pat was on another level, honestly.
Patrick Willis was unlike any linebacker I’ve ever seen. Dude hit like a train and had a sprint button.
Both phenomenal players, I don’t know why everything has to be hypothetical rankings
Fred is the man, Love the dude to death, but Patrick Willis was the best to ever do it. Nobody dominated the field like Pat. That said, Fred will be right next to him when it is all said and done.
lol Fred doesn’t even have his stats while playing 3 more games. I love Warner but Willis was on another level
1a 1b UNLESS Fred is a super bowl mvp
They’re different players, in slightly different eras, asked to do different things. It’s a great debate at this point. If Fred stays healthy, there won’t be a debate that doesn’t have to include “in their prime” because his longevity will win out in my opinion. Right now I’m still pushing Pat hard. Dude was in talks of being one of the best middles of all time, not just in 49ers history.
He will probably pass pat as having the greatest career just due to longevity but I think pat is closer to the ideal LB prospect so from a talent perspective is better than Fred. It’s just crazy how great our LBs have consistently been, even across different front office regimes.
Definitely getting close. Both are true warriors.
I like Fred but his style of lb compared to Pat is way different. Fred is physical, but Pat was Ray Lewis physical. Fred plays the coverage better than Pat did.
Also remember Pat retired at 30 and lots of his tackles are solos (733) compared to Fred only has (597) Fred racks up assist with (350), Pat is (217).
Sack wise goes to Pat cause Pat was always blitzing in, where Fred is staying in coverage where he shines.
God didn’t know he was this close to Willis stats
Fred dropping several ints this season has me saying no
If Warner has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Warner has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Warner has only one fan then that is me. If Warner has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against Warner, then I am against the world.
It could already be Warner, if we won those superbowls he’d have 2 to pats 1 (again if we won)
One of two things would have to happen for the torch to pass. Fred has to win a SB. Or Pat has to pass it himself.
Ya know what, I’m feeling super grateful right now as a fan from this post.
We’ve witnessed some damn great linebacker play as Niners fans for a long, long time now.
This is a damn good problem to have, debating these two.
Cheers to all.
Pat and Bowman will always and forever be my favorite duo. Bowman had such great instincts. He might not have the same stats as warner and pat but he was a game changer period. The plays he made and when he made them literally changed the outcome of so many games. The pick at the sick is my all time favorite 9ers moment in history! Brought tears to my eyes to watch him be the one to pull off such a amazing play!
Patrick is my favorite forty niner of all time. No one will ever pass him. He’s basically my Joe Montana.
The niners were bad. Like real bad. It used to bum me out so much watching their games, I stopped. I just couldn’t take it. And all those horrible draft picks! I lost my mind at Mike Rumph. The Raiduhs were laughing at us when we took him. The fucking Raiduhs. Not only did the entire NFL know that we were taking a corner (and Philly jumped in front of us to take Lito Sheppard), but we took a corner who couldn’t move his hips. How do you draft a corner who can’t change direction? Pure incompetence.
And then Patrick shows up. A knight in shining armor. A real goddamn motherfucking football player. I remember when I first laid eyes on him, I was blown away by his speed and physicality. Dominance from day 1, and a reason to start watching football again. Honestly I had forgotten what a great player looked like. Thank you Miami for drafting Ted Ginn in front of him! I still remember Keyshawn criticizing that pick, saying Miami just took a punt returner with the ninth overall pick. Sometimes you gotta wonder about the people making decisions on these teams.
Damn Pat was a beast and he retired on top of his game
Both all time 49ers, but Willis was just different. Tough to explain if you didn’t watch it every week for 112 games.
Pat is just a different kinda player. He’s a Mount Rushmore lvl linebacker not just a HOFer. When u ask who are the best 5 LBs ever Willis is there every time. Fred is a walking HOFer already though
I thinks it’s crazy how amazing Patrick Willis was and how short his nfl career really was.
Freddy Wueger is great, probably the best Middle LB of this generation. But I don’t think he’s passed Pat Willis just yet. I think if he continues to play another couple years like this he could, but Willis still got him for now.
Pwillis had AURA. The same aura ray Lewis had. Fred doesn’t have it. We are blessed to have him but it’s like comparing T.O vs Jerry Rice, or Hearst vs Gore
No! They are both elite linebackers at the top of the league and are clearly molded to different eras of the NFL.
They’re both so great. Pwill and Navarro man those two were fucking unstoppable! Warner is amazing too!
Fred is a monster and will be a HOF on this trajectory. But Pat was a different breed. Had he played longer he would’ve gone down as the best LB of all time, and probably was in my biased opinion
No. Fred has speed and can make tackles, but a Willis intimidated and destroyed the opponent.
Why compare? Just enjoy we had Willis and have Warner.
There will never be another player like 52 in red and gold, but I’ll be damned if Warner isn’t climbing the ranks to sit next to him in Canton
Pat was practically a one man show. No comparison. He arguably one of the best 5 linebackers ever! And yes I’m super partial and biased lol
As SF’s best LB ever??
I’m sorry, but NO!
Willis was our Ray Lewis. Teams didnt want to play us because of him. The middle of the field was not safe when Willis was playing. Never gonna be another like him, but fred is great in his own way