Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman officially announced his retirement from the NFL. He and his family were on hand to observe the team's Tuesday practice from the sideline and even had the opportunity to break down the post-practice huddle.
Recently retired NaVorro Bowman helps break down the post-practice huddle ... pic.twitter.com/QA4fe8v2OV
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) June 4, 2019
Bowman spoke with reporters after practice. While he wasn't able to officially sign a one-day deal with the 49ers because the team would require a corresponding roster move, he was able to announce his retirement while spending the day with his former organization.
"I was a guy coming from District Heights, Maryland, and this was the organization that chose to let me play in the NFL," Bowman said. "I just felt like where you started is — no matter how things are going to go, relationships are going to go up and down all the time, but you always remember how it was.
"You remember the blood, sweat, and tears of the guys you played with, and the respect that you earned, that's not given to you. I feel like the 49ers is my home, and it's the place that loved me from the start. So I wanted to come back and retire as a Niner, and they welcomed me, so I'm glad it happened."
Bowman said that he had several opportunities to play last year, but the offers did not meet the linebacker's expectations.
"At the end of the day, I know who I am, I know what I'm worth, I know what you're going to ask me to do if I do sign this contract," Bowman said. "I just wanted to get compensated for that, and it wasn't working out, so I hung them up."
Bowman spent eight seasons in the NFL and all but the final 10 games of his career with the 49ers. He signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders on October 16, 2017, three days after being released by San Francisco.
Bowman insists there is no Ill-will about how things ended with the 49ers.
"Today was great," he said. "I wouldn't be here if I had any bad feelings towards anybody in the organization. I'm just glad everyone welcomed me with open arms."
Only one linebacker had a higher overall Pro Football Focus grade between 2011 and 2013 than Bowman's 91.8 — Patrick Willis. Bowman called the tandem with Willis among the best in NFL history.
"We honestly committed ourselves to the game, to our team, to one another," he said. "It didn't matter who got the tackle or who was making the call or whatever it may be."
Bowman suffered two major left leg injuries during a 13-month span starting in January of 2014. He sometimes wonders what his career might have looked like had those injuries never occurred.
"Maybe I'd be playing 12 or 13 years, a six-time All-Pro," Bowman said. "I don't know, but I was giving everything for my teammates. That's what happens."
You can watch the entire Bowman press conference below, courtesy of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Grant Cohn.