49ers MLB Patrick Willis to retire

Holy crap!

San Francisco 49ers LB Patrick Willis plans to retire - NFL.com

Patrick Willis is walking away from the game near the prime of his career.

The 30-year-old linebacker plans to retire on Tuesday after eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.

Yahoo Sports first reported the news.

Justin Smith, a 14-year veteran and staple of the San Francisco front, is also heavily considering turning in his pads, according to CSN Bay Area.

A first-round pick in 2007, Willis made seven Pro Bowls and five first-team All Pro units, highlighting one of the most dominant runs for an inside linebacker in the last decade.

From 2008 up until last season, there was no one better at the position which makes his impending announcement all the more shocking.

Willis' season ended early last year after he opted for surgery on a bothersome toe injury that had reportedly hampered him for a few seasons, though it was certainly not enough to force him out of the game. His explanation, expected Tuesday, will be interesting to hear.

The loss is a stunning blow for the 49ers, a team that is desperately trying to rebuild following the ouster of Jim Harbaugh. Smith was undoubtedly the easier of the two to swallow given the fact that he'd turn 37 during the season this year. His retirement was almost expected now that the team is shifting gears and heading in another direction.

Willis, on the other hand, will take some time to digest.

With a cast of rotating characters, some talented and troubled, Willis and Smith were known commodities. New head coach Jim Tomsula was undoubtedly counting on Willis' presence in some form to help engineer a new era. Willis was a picture of stability and consistency.

Before his toe injury, Willis had missed just five regular-season games in his career. Smith only missed two in red and gold.

At this point, the only solace for Trent Baalke will be the cap room. The cash-strapped 49ers could have saved more than $7 million by releasing Willis this year.

Otherwise, he'll be hard at work trying to fix this mess.