The San Francisco 49ers have a foghorn they blast at the beginning of each home game, and after big plays. Since moving into Levi’s Stadium, the 49ers have had a special guest pull the switch to set off the foghorn before kickoff. It’s the kind of thing more teams are doing, as a way of bringing back notable alumni and famous fans.
In Week 14, the 49ers had a surprise guest: former linebacker Patrick Willis. He came out to fire up the crowd, and he was plenty fired up himself. You can check out some video of it below.
It was cool to see Willis back in the house, but in light of the team’s current historic struggles, it is hard to get all that excited. Sure, it’s cool to have Willis there, but the decimation of this franchise over the past three years means when I see someone like Willis, it just reminds me of what used to be.
We have had plenty of that when guys from the 80s and 90s return, but it is a little different with Willis. We are less than two years removed from his retirement announcement, and the team has done nothing but fall apart since his departure. There has been no return to glory yet. Maybe in five or ten years, or whenever after the franchise finds some kind of footing, maybe then it will feel better. But for now, it just makes me sad for how screwed up this organization has become.
Patrick Willis on the foghorn today!
Posted by San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, December 11, 2016