Five-time All-Pro linebacker of the National Football League's (NFL) San Francisco 49ers, Patrick Willis, retires from professional football.

After eight years of football, Willis quits the 49ers due to injuries on his feet and toe.

Despite the short career and the teary-eyed announcement in front of a press conference, Willis calls his retirement day as one of the happiest days of his life as he is leaving on his own terms.

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Last Tuesday, he announced that his career was over due to a toe injury that cut his 2014 season short. The toe needed surgery to fix.

In addition, Willis has some sore size 13 feet are beginning to make normal things even harder for him to do.

With Willis out of the squad, the 49ers are losing their defensive captain and captain in the locker room. He was often the player who addressed his teammates in the locker room, inspiring and firing them up with words of encouragement.

"In my head, I'm already a Hall of Famer," Willis said. "I am leaving this with closure, saying that I am happy today, more happy today than I was the day I was drafted. That says something to me," Willis said.

He also says that he has no regrets in leaving. While he did want to win a Super Bowl ring, a feat so close in 2012 when they lost by three points to the Baltimore Ravens.

However, his feet are not the same feet that can give people and his team the "wow" that they need.

Drafted in 2007 as the 11^th overall pick out of Mississipi, Willis would eventually win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the year award. He started 112 games and had 950 tackles with 20 ½ sacks in eight seasons.

He also had eight interceptions - returning two for touchdowns - 16 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and 53 passes defended.  

TagsPatrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers, NFL, Retires