NFL star Patrick Willis is thriving in retirement as a Silicon Valley tech worker

CAMPBELL, Calif. — Close your eyes and picture the life of a retired NFL superstar. Maybe you envision a moveable feast — private jets, exclusive parties and beautiful companions. Maybe you see something quieter, day after day in the backyard watching the grass grow. 

Patrick Willis' life after retirement resembles neither. One of the greatest linebackers in modern NFL history, Willis made the Pro Bowl in seven of his eight professional seasons. Then he shocked the football world when he walked away from the game in March 2015 at age 30. 

Now Willis' life is — well, probably not at all what most NFL fans would expect.  Read more...