Ex-49er Willis claims business partner defrauded him for millions

Since his surprise retirement from the NFL in 2015 due to health concerns, former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis has found that the business world can be just as dangerous.

Willis has filed a lawsuit against his Silicon Valley business partner, Eren Niazi, claiming fraud against the founder of Open Source Storage, where the former linebacker was serving as owner, board member, and executive vice president. The 31-year-old partnered with Niazi shortly after retiring in March 2015, hoping to prove he could make a living as more than just an athlete.

The lawsuit says Niazi committed fraud to "enrich himself at (Willis') expense," and seeks at least $2 million in real estate and other unspecified damages, according to Salvador Rodrigues of Inc.com. The company's operations have been stopped for the time being and its website taken offline.

It appears Willis may have been taken advantage of by Niazi, who is currently being held without bail at the San Benito County Jail on unrelated criminal charges. He was arrested approximately on month ago and charged with use of a firearm, discharging a firearm, and endangering a child.