In what has already been an extremely tumultuous offseason, the 49ers will now suffer perhaps their biggest blow yet: They are losing their All Pro and likely future Hall of Fame linebacker Patrick Willis to retirement, a source close to the organization said early Monday.

Willis has experienced a religious awakening of sorts, according to a source, and has decided to hang up his cleats as a result. Whispers surfaced late last week that the 49ers would be losing one of their most prized players unexpectedly. The player they are losing could not have been more important.

After being picked in the first round of the 2007 draft, Willis has been a stalwart on the 49ers defense. Now the 49ers will look to rookie sensation Chris Borland to fill his role permanently.