NaVorro Bowman

NaVorro Roderick Bowman (born May 28, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

He is currently the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bowman was born in District Heights, Maryland on May 28, 1988.

He started sports at a young age and was a member of District Heights boys and girls club, where he played both basketball and football and was invited to many All-star Events.

Bowman was a standout player at Suitland High School in Suitland, Maryland.

Bowman missed most of his senior season with a shoulder injury, but had a very impressive junior campaign in which he recorded 165 tackles, nine sacks, and three fumble recoveries as a linebacker and ran for 1,200 yards and 22 touchdowns as a running back.

Bowman was named the Maryland Defensive Player-of-the-Year, first-team All-State, Washington Post first-team All-Met and first-team All-Conference.

He was recruited to Penn State by Larry Johnson, Sr.

Bowman responded by breaking the school's bowl record with five tackles for loss (minus-21 yards), and tying the Rose Bowl record set by Ohio State's Andy Katzenmoyer in the 1997 game.

Bowman also recorded his fourth sack of the season among his eight tackles (seven solo) against the Trojans.

Bowman played for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team while attending Pennsylvania State University from 2006 to 2009.

After redshirting the 2006 season, Bowman played in nine games in 2007.

He missed two games due to a sprained ankle suffered in a game against Illinois.

Bowman finished the season with 16 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a blocked kick, and a pass deflection.

Bowman saw increased playing time in 2008, largely due to the graduation of All-American linebacker Dan Connor and injury to presumptive starter Sean Lee.

Despite the attrition, however, Bowman kept the Nittany Lions ranked in the top ten among three primary defensive categories.

Individually, he led the Nittany Lions in total tackles (106), solos (61), and assisted tackles (45), was second in tackles for loss (16.5) and tied for third in sacks (4.0).

Bowman also forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble, grabbed an interception and had five pass deflections.

Bowman finished the season with a heavy heart and an outstanding performance.

For his superb efforts against USC, Bowman was selected to ESPN.com's 2008–09 All-Bowl team, one of two Big Ten players named to the squad.

At the end of the season, Bowman was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection.

He played against Southern California in the 2009 Rose Bowl the day after his high school coach, Nick Lynch, was killed in an automobile accident in Maryland.

He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Bowman was also a member of the Oakland Raiders.

On January 4, 2010, Bowman's mother announced his decision to forgo his final year of NCAA eligibility and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

On the second day of the 2010 NFL Draft, Bowman was selected in the third round with the 91st overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers.

Bowman played in all 16 games in 2010, starting one in place of Patrick Willis, who was ruled out for Week 17 after undergoing a second surgery on his broken right hand.

Bowman finished his rookie year with 46 tackles.

In 2011, Bowman became the starter at inside linebacker with the departure of Takeo Spikes in free agency.

Bowman began the season recording a team-high seven tackles during the season-opening 33–17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

In the next game against the Dallas Cowboys, he had a team-high 11 tackles and a pass deflection as the 49ers lost in overtime by a score of 27–24.

The following week against the Cincinnati Bengals, Bowman recorded a team-high 13 tackles as the 49ers won on the road by a score of 13–8.

During a Week 6 25–19 road victory over the Detroit Lions, Bowman recorded a team-high 14 tackles and a pass deflection.

Following a Week 7 bye, the 49ers faced the Cleveland Browns.

In that game, Bowman had a team-high 12 tackles and a pass deflection as the 49ers won by a score of 20–10.

Two weeks later against the New York Giants, he recorded a team-high 15 tackles as the 49ers won by a score of 27–20.

During a Week 12 16–6 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving, Bowman had a team-high nine tackles.

During a narrow Week 16 19–17 road victory over the Seahawks, he recorded a team-high 12 tackles, a pass deflection, and his first NFL sack.

In the regular-season finale against the St. Louis Rams, Bowman recorded a team-high 10 tackles, a pass deflection, and a sack in the 34–27 road victory.

Starting in all 16 games and playing alongside All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis, Bowman made huge strides and finished his second professional season with 143 tackles, two sacks, eight pass deflections, and three fumble recoveries.