49ers boast impressive linebacking corps

In late November, he promised his teammate a night out after signing a five-year contract extension worth $45.25 million, with $25.5 million in guaranteed money.

Arguably the NFL’s most-feared linebacking tandem, these two have understandably been a little bit busy lately leading the San Francisco 49ers back to the Super Bowl on Sunday against Baltimore for the first time in 18 years.

“It will probably happen in New Orleans,” Bowman said with a grin.

The 49ers have quite a luxury with ball-hawking inside linebackers Bowman and Willis wreaking havoc on opposing offenses — and Smith and Brooks doing the same on the outside.

“I think that’s one of the main reasons we’re in the situation we’re in, getting ready to play in the Super Bowl, is you’ve got to have good players,” All-Pro defensive lineman Justin Smith said. “And that linebacking corps is probably one of the best in the league, if not the best.”

They take pride in their come-at-you-from-all-angles pass rush and in being stingy run-stoppers. Members of this close-knit unit push each other on the practice field and consider themselves family off it. Just take Bowman’s decision to make Willis the godfather of his twin daughters born last year, Stoni and Cali.

While Willis is the captain and one of the faces of the franchise, he is always quick to point out he wouldn’t be making the plays he does without the rest of this hard-nosed defense that remained intact from last year’s playoff run.

“I say it all the time, I’m very fortunate to be a part of the defense and alongside the linebackers and to be playing with those guys,” Willis said. “People can make it about me and say what they want to say. I wouldn’t be nearly the player I am today if I wouldn’t have had those front seven or the linebackers setting the edges and making plays as well. I’m fortunate to have those guys. I hope we can go out there and play our best football Super Bowl Sunday and be able to wrap it all up and say, ‘We did it.’”