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Patrick Willis may not have had the longest career, but during his time on the field, he left an indelible mark with his relentless hitting. As a rookie in 2007 with the San Francisco 49ers, he led the NFL in tackles, a feat he repeated in 2009. Embracing the motto, "be the hammer, not the nail," Willis would often deliver hits that reverberated through the stadium, such as the notorious hit on Brad Smith of the Jets, which knocked Smith out of the game. Willis’s aggressive style garnered him eight Pro Bowl selections and a place in the Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy in just eight seasons.