© Kyle Terada | 2016 Dec 11
Three former 49ers players, along with general manager John Lynch, have been included in the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. Linebacker Patrick Willis, Defensive lineman Bryant Young and running back Ricky Watters were all included in the group that was narrowed from a list of 122 nominees by the selection committee.
The group will be paired down to 15 finalists on Jan. 2, 2020. Up to five players will be selected from the finalists for induction.
Willis, Young and Watters are three of seven first time semifinalists on the ballot.
Willis made the Pro Bowl seven times in his eight-year career, all spent with San Francisco after being selected in the first round in 2007. Willis was named as the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year that season, and was named a first-team All-Pro, the first of five selections. Willis abruptly retired in the 2015 offseason at the age of 30 after struggling with a foot injury the previous year. This is his first year of eligibility.
Young also played his entire 14-year career with the 49ers, after being selected seventh overall in 1994. Young was a member of the 49ers’ Super Bowl winning team that season and was named the NFC Rookie of the Year by United Press International (UPI). Young was selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams four times, was selected for the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade team and was named as the league’s Comeback Player of the Year in 1999 after recovering from a broken leg the previous season.
Young is the 49ers’ all-time leader with 89.5 sacks. This is Young’s eighth year of eligibility.
Watters was also a member of the 49ers’ Super Bowl winning team in 1994, after being selected in the second round in 1991. Waters made five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams (three and one with the 49ers, respectively) throughout his 11 year career.
Watters ranks 24th all-time with 10,643 rushing yards.