NaVorro Bowman facts for kids
Bowman in 2023
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| Los Angeles Chargers | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebackers coach | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | May 28, 1988 District Heights, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Suitland (Suitland, Maryland) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Penn State (2006–2009) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 3 / Pick: 91 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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NaVorro Roderick Bowman (born May 28, 1988) is an American former professional football player. He played as a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Bowman is now a linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.
He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions. The San Francisco 49ers picked him in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft. Bowman also played for the Oakland Raiders.
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Early Life and High School
NaVorro Bowman was born in District Heights, Maryland on May 28, 1988. He started playing sports when he was very young. He was part of the District Heights Boys & Girls Club. There, he played both basketball and football.
Bowman was a top player at Suitland High School in Suitland, Maryland. In his junior year, he made 165 tackles and nine sacks. He also ran for 1,200 yards and 22 touchdowns as a running back. He was named Maryland Defensive Player-of-the-Year.
College Football Days
Bowman played for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 2006 to 2009. He didn't play in 2006 (this is called a redshirt year).
In 2007, he played in nine games. He had 16 tackles and one sack. In 2008, Bowman played much more. He led the Nittany Lions with 106 tackles. He also had four sacks and two forced fumbles.
Bowman played in the 2009 Rose Bowl with a heavy heart. His high school coach had passed away the day before. Still, Bowman played amazingly, setting a school record with five tackles for loss. He was named a first-team All-Big Ten player that season.
- Maryland Defensive Player of the Year (2005)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2008, 2009)
Playing in the NFL
San Francisco 49ers (2010-2017)
Rookie Season (2010)
The San Francisco 49ers drafted Bowman in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was the 91st player chosen overall. In his first year, Bowman played in all 16 games. He finished his rookie season with 46 tackles.
Becoming a Star (2011)
In 2011, Bowman became a full-time starter at linebacker. He had an amazing season, making 143 tackles and two sacks. He led the 49ers in tackles. His play helped the 49ers defense set an NFL record. They didn't allow a rushing touchdown for 14 games!
The 49ers made it to the NFC Championship Game but lost. Even though he wasn't picked for the Pro Bowl, Bowman was named to the First-team All-Pro team. This means he was one of the best players in the league at his position.
Super Bowl Run (2012)
Bowman continued his strong play in 2012. He had 148 tackles, two sacks, and his first NFL interception. The 49ers had a great season, finishing with an 11–4–1 record. They made it all the way to Super Bowl XLVII.
In the Super Bowl, the 49ers played against the Baltimore Ravens. Bowman had nine tackles in the game. However, the 49ers lost a close game by a score of 34–31.
All-Pro Season (2013)
The 2013 season was another fantastic year for Bowman. He recorded 145 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions. He even scored a touchdown by intercepting a pass and running it 89 yards! This was the last touchdown ever scored at Candlestick Park.
Bowman earned First-team All-Pro honors for the third time. The 49ers made the playoffs again. They won two playoff games, but in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks, Bowman suffered a serious knee injury. He tore both his ACL and MCL.
Battling Back from Injury (2014-2015)
Because of his knee injury, Bowman missed the entire 2014 season. It was a tough time for him.
In 2015, Bowman made an incredible comeback. He returned to play despite worries about his health. He had a career-high and league-leading 154 tackles! He also had 2.5 sacks. He was chosen for his third Pro Bowl and his fourth First-team All-Pro team.
Final Seasons with the 49ers (2016-2017)
Bowman started the 2016 season well, with an interception in the first game. However, in Week 4, he suffered another serious injury. He tore his achilles tendon, which ended his season early.
In 2017, Bowman returned again. He played five games for the 49ers, but he asked to be released from the team. The 49ers agreed and let him go.
Oakland Raiders (2017)
After leaving the 49ers, Bowman signed a contract with the Oakland Raiders in October 2017. He quickly became a key player for them.
In his first game with the Raiders, he had 11 tackles. He continued to play well, making an interception in Week 12. In 10 games with the Raiders, he had 89 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Overall, in 2017, he had 127 tackles across both teams.
Life After Playing
Retirement from the NFL
On June 4, 2019, NaVorro Bowman announced that he was retiring from the NFL. He played for eight seasons and officially retired as a San Francisco 49er.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Bowman decided to become a coach. On February 14, 2024, he was named the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The "NaVorro Bowman Rule"
During the game where Bowman got his season-ending injury in 2013, he seemed to recover a loose ball. However, the referees ruled that the other team had the ball. At that time, the rules didn't allow officials to review this kind of play.
Because of this play, the NFL changed its rules. On March 26, 2014, team owners voted to allow referees to review who recovered a loose ball. This change is sometimes called the "NaVorro Bowman Rule."
Personal Life
NaVorro Bowman studied crime, law, and justice at Penn State University. He often talks with former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington. They first met when Bowman was in high school. Because their playing styles were similar, Bowman earned the nickname "LaVorro."
