Patrick Willis’ quiet intensity powered Hall of Fame career
“To me, he’s such a good example of the difference between perception and reality,” Borland said. “He’s like the type of player you would create as a kid in Madden — 6-1, 240-plus pounds, fast, looked cool, wore a visor — and when I got to San Francisco, he was soft-spoken, really supportive and a great leader in a way that didn’t draw attention to him. The epitome of speak softly and carry a big stick.”
Willis’ soft-spoken approach to leadership didn’t always carry over to the meeting rooms, though.