San Francisco 49ers: Is Patrick Willis the Team's Top Defensive Player Ever?

49ers All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis has made a compelling argument for best San Francisco defender of all time.
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He's surprised many to come from a childhood of poverty to working himself into one of the best and well-respected players in the NFL.

He's played for five seasons. And he's been named to the Pro Bowl each year.

He's been named an first team All-Pro four out of five years.

The other year, he earned second-team honors.

Patrick Willis has even been compared to future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. By Ray Lewis himself.

He's the undisputed leader of last year's scariest and most dominant defense in the league.

He's the one player who gives the emotional and spirited pregame and halftime speeches to motivate his fellow teammates.

Which begs the question: Is Patrick Willis already the franchise's best defensive player ever? Regardless of position?

Here's a countdown of the top five defensive players in San Francisco 49ers history.

5. Leo Nomellini, Defensive Tackle

Leo Nomellini was the 49ers' first-ever NFL draft pick back in 1950. Coincidentally, he was the No. 11 selection, just like Patrick Willis was in 2007.

And Nomellini was also a professional wrestler in the off-season.

At 6'3" and 260 pounds, "The Lion”  had size, speed, agility, aggressiveness and strong conditioning.

He played for the 49ers for 14 years and was named to the Pro Bowl 10 times and first time All-Pro six times, all during the 1950s and early 1960s.

Nomellini even played on the offensive line, twice earning All-Pro honors at that position out of his six nominations.

Statistics weren't kept consistently during this era, but he recorded 13 career fumble recoveries.

Nomellini was named to the NFL's All-1950s team as a defensive tackle and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

4. Dave Wilcox, Linebacker

An outside linebacker, Dave Wilcox was nicknamed “The Intimidator.”

At 6'3" and 240 pounds, he had an uncanny ability to disrupt plays and did not let offensive linemen or tight ends easily off the line of scrimmage.

Wilcox also had very good speed and length, allowing him to be effective in pass coverage, posting 14 interceptions during his career.

Wilcox picked up where Leo Nomellini left off as a third-round pick in 1964.

He was named All-Pro first team twice, as well as second team twice. He was also selected to play in seven Pro Bowls. Wilcox was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

3. Patrick Willis, Linebacker

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Patrick Willis, at 6'1" and 240 pounds, stands up well to the test of time and is almost a throwback to the likes of Leo Nomellini and Dave Wilcox.

If the top 2 of the list weren't iconoclasts in 49ers history or if Willis was further along in his career than just a mere five years, he likely wouldn't show up at No. 3.

He doesn't wow you with his sack or interception totals. But Willis can get to the quarterback with the best of them and immediately demands attention. Likewise, he's out in coverage on tight ends and other pass-catchers but does the dirty work that sometimes doesn't get recognized or rewarded with the stat.

But he's third all time in team history in forced fumbles and tackles. Willis is where the action is happening, makes the big hits and makes the bigger recoveries.

He's dangerous and someone you don't want to make angry.

2. Ronnie Lott, Safety

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In 49ers history, he's No. 1 in career tackles and interceptions.

He even had the tip of his left pinky finger amputated when it was crushed while making a tackle and surgery wouldn't have had him ready in time for the following season.

Ronnie Lott played football the way the NFL's founding fathers would've liked.

Tough and hard-nosed, Lott was the hardest hitter in the NFL. Period.

He was named to the Pro Bowl 10 times and All-Pro eight times. NFL.com rated Lott the No. 11 player of all time.

Lott's on the NFL's All-1980s, 1990s and 75th Anniversary teams. He's a four-time Super Bowl champion, had his number retired by San Francisco and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Lott had an unbelievable awareness to discern how a play was developing and used his speed to break up passes and earn a reputation as one of the hardest open-field tacklers in league history.

1. Bryant Young, Defensive Tackle

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In his final professional game, Bryant Young was carried off the field—"Rudy"-style.

"B.Y" was a four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection. He won a Super Bowl in 1995. Young was named to the NFL's All-1990s team.

He's tops in franchise history in sacks and top five in forced fumbles and tackles.

Young suffered a season-ending injury on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants in 1998. The gruesome injury to his leg needed a metal rod to be inserted. But he returned fully recovered in time for the 1999 campaign and earned the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Award for his brilliant performance during that season.

At 6'3" and 305 pounds, Young commanded the double team and still took care of business while opening up opportunities for his teammates.