Patrick Willis' career ended far too soon and in circumstances far from befitting of his spectacular play on the field, as he retired in 2015 after missing most of his final NFL season through injury.

But the legendary San Francisco 49ers linebacker moved a step closer to the ending his story deserves on Wednesday.

Willis was named as one as the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

It is Willis' fifth year of eligibility and the third time has been a finalist for enshrinement in Canton.

Five of the finalists can be elected as part of the class of 2024, with their resumes set to be discussed in Las Vegas the week of Super Bowl 58.

Despite a career that lasted only eight seasons, Willis has an extremely compelling case. He was a five-time first-team All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler and named to the 2010s All-Decade team.

The best player on one of the best defenses of the modern era, the only knocks on Willis are that he didn't win a Super Bowl – the 49ers fell agonizingly short in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 season – and the length of his career.

Yet his somewhat abbreviated career has not prevented him from reaching this stage of the process three times, so no longer should it be considered a barrier to enshrinement for a player who otherwise ticks every box.

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