This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Willis—on behalf of Verizon—discussed the First-Ever Super Bowl FanFest, which will bring a Super Bowl LIX experience to 30 NFL cities across the country. He also reflected on his time playing under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Verizon is transforming stadiums and venues across all 30 NFL markets into a nationwide FanFest unlike any other. On Super Bowl LIX Sunday, fans will enjoy free celebrations, including food and beverages from locally owned small businesses, meet-and-greets with local football heroes, live local music acts, interactive games, and unique football fan experiences.
Fans will also experience Super Bowl LIX activities in select cities on the field.
Verizon Super Bowl FanFest is coming to 30 cities. FREE tickets. #VerizonFanFest https://t.co/gbBOQlwUzi pic.twitter.com/JByOvqKxay
— Verizon (@Verizon) January 3, 2025
Willis played under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco during the last few seasons of his career and experienced much success. He spoke highly of the current Los Angeles Chargers head coach and his impact on his career.
“I was very fortunate to play with that and be a part of that coaching staff,” Willis explained. “When you’re not winning, there are many reasons. There could be a lot of reasons for that; my first few years were tough. It was tough, going .500 and just trying to get into the playoffs at eight and eight or nine and seven. And I remember, again, in 2011, it was a lot of uncertainty. It was coming off a lockout with a new coaching staff. We hadn’t had a chance to have an off-season workout, and we weren’t able to build that camaraderie.”
Harbaugh has earned a reputation over his career for his intensity and focus on winning regardless of the deficit.
“I believe it was a game that happened, I want to say it was the Philadelphia Eagles game, and we [were] playing them,” Willis said. “We [were] down at halftime. when you’ve been used to being on a team, it’s not so well, you’re going to have time. Fingers are pointing, and people are going at each other. It could be a little tough in there.
“I remember going in and thinking like, oh man, being so traumatized from what used to be. I remember we were going in and remember hearing, first, it starts up top and goes downhill, and hearing Harbaugh say, ‘You know what, we got ourselves in a hole, but we know we’re going to do ourselves out. We are going to fight in every play, just the way he went about it.”
Willis had the most team success while Harbaugh was the 49ers’ head coach and continues to wish him well as he led the Chargers to a Wild Card round appearance in his first season in Los Angeles.
“It was so amazing that I remember just saying, like, hey, I think he is going to be alright, I think he gets it, and we go on to have no go to we’re going to have an amazing, three out of four years together because our last season didn’t go as well, but overall, Coach Harbaugh is a tremendous coach,” said Willis. “I was very excited to see him go to see him have the success he had after leaving, the success he had in Michigan, and then see the success he had this year at the Los Angeles Chargers; it was awesome to see.”
Visit VerizonFanFest.com for a full list of events and locations and access to free tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. FanFests across the country will take place on Sunday, February 9, beginning at 4pm ET / 1pm PT.
