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Factoid

Patrick Willis

A report came out yesterday that Patrick Willis would retire, bringing a close to an excellent career as one of the league's elite inside linebackers. It's a status he held essentially from Day 1; he was one of the most impressive rookie linebackers ever.

Since 2000, 37 different players have managed 100 total tackles in their rookie seasons. Willis, back in 2007 as a rookie with the 49ers, put up 174. That's the highest total of any rookie, 10 more than 2nd-place Luke Kuechly.

In his eight-year career, Willis went on to finish short of 100 tackles only twice; in seasons when he missed 3 games, and then last year (where he was healthy for only six games). Just 30 years old, you have to think he has plenty of football left had he decided to keep playing.

Top rookie tacklers since 2000 are presented below. The 2014 players who made the list -- including another 49er, Chris Borland -- are in bold.

100-TACKLE ROOKIES, 2000-PRESENT
YearPlayer, Team Pos Comb SoloAst Sck
2007Patrick Willis, S.F. ILB 174135394
2012Luke Kuechly, Car.MLB 164103611
2013Kiko Alonso, Buf.MLB 15987722
2006DeMeco Ryans, Hou.MLB 155125303.5
2012Bobby Wagner, Sea.MLB 14087532
2007Jon Beason, Car.MLB 140106340
2012Lavonte David, T.B.OLB 139112272
2009Brian Cushing, Hou.OLB 13386474
2014C.J. Mosley, Balt.ILB 13389443
2008Jerod Mayo, N.E.ILB 128100280
2013Paul Worrilow, Atl. OLB 12779482
2012Vontaze Burfict, Cin.OLB 12773541
2007David Harris, NYJILB 12790375
2006Ernie Sims, Det.OLB 12481430.5
2010T.J. Ward, Clev.SS 12395280
2009James Laurinaitis, St.L.MLB 120107132
2006A.J. Hawk, G.B.OLB 11982373.5
2013Alec Ogletree, St.L.OLB 11794231.5
2005Kirk Morrison, Oak.LB 11691250
2004D.J. Williams, Den.OLB 11481332
2003Nick Barnett, G.B.MLB 11286262
2006Thomas Howard, Oak.OLB 11088220
2014Preston Brown, Buff.OLB 10966430
2014Chris Borland, S.F.ILB 10884241
2004Jonathan Vilma, NYJMLB 10777302
2005Kerry Rhodes, NYJSS 10585201
2013John Cyprien, Jac. SS 10487171
2012Harrison Smith, Minn.FS 10474301
2006Donte Whitner, Buff.SS 10467370
2005Lofa Tatupu, Sea.MLB 10485194
2014Telvin Smith, Jac.OLB 10472322
2004Madieu Williams, Cin. FS 10386172
2004Teddy Lehman, Det.OLB 10275271
2003Mike Doss, Ind.SS 10273290
2010Alterraun Verner, Tenn.CB 10185160
2004Erik Coleman, NYJFS 10073272
2002Chris Cash, Det.CB 10087130

--Andy Richardson

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