NaVorro Bowman returned to San Francisco just so he could call it a career.
The veteran linebacker was back in the Bay Area on Tuesday to retire as a member of the 49ers.
Forever a Niner.@NBowman53 came by the #49ers facility today to inform the team he plans to retire and will be doing it as a 49er as he had always intended.
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) June 4, 2019
Read: https://t.co/JpNRlwAkp1 pic.twitter.com/KPJMLA1IBs
The Niners couldn't sign Bowman to a one-day contract to allow him to officially retire with the team, given it would have required them to make room for him on the roster. But he was in attendance for practice and still felt special regardless of the formality.
Recently retired NaVorro Bowman helps break down the post-practice huddle ... pic.twitter.com/QA4fe8v2OV
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) June 4, 2019
"You remember the blood, sweat and tears of the guys that you played with. You remember the respect that you earned," Bowman said. "I feel like the 49ers are my home. It's the place that loved me from the start, and so I wanted to come back and retire as a Niner."
Bowman, who turned 31 last week, was selected by the Niners in the third round of the 2010 draft. He spent a portion of the 2017 season with the Raiders and the 2018 season out of the league.
For the regular season and playoffs combined, he tallied 877 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, five interceptions, nine forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and one touchdown over a career that included three Pro Bowl nods, four first-team All Pro selections and a trip to Super Bowl 47.
Bowman also holds the record for fourth-most tackles in Niners franchise history.