Patrick Semansky/AP
Early Monday morning, ProFootball Talk's Mike Florio hinted that the 49ers had some surprising news coming later in the day, though he didn't reveal any details.
Willis, 30, has had a decorated career with the 49ers since being drafted 11th in the first round in 2007. He was named a First-Team All-Pro as a rookie and is a seven-time Pro Bowl player.
In 2014, Willis played only six games before missing the rest of the season with a toe injury.
According to spotrac.com, Willis would have earned more than $7 million in salary this season with about $800,000 in bonuses. His salary is not guaranteed for 2016, but if he were to keep playing, he would earn almost $8 million in salary with almost $2 million in bonuses.
Perhaps Willis' recent injuries have something to due with his unexpected retirement.
We'll update as more details emerge.