The San Francisco 49ers have signed linebacker NaVorro Bowman to a four-year contract extension worth $44 million with $20 guaranteed.
#49ers and LB Navorro Bowman agreed to a 4-year extension worth $44M with $20M guaranteed, source said. He has three years left on his deal
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 4, 2016
San Francisco 49ers Sign NaVorro Bowman to Four-Year Extension
Bowman was drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Penn State by the San Francisco 49ers. Bowman is headed into his seventh season in the NFL and he is one of the best inside linebackers in the game.
Bowman saw some action in his rookie season, playing in all 16 games, but was not named starter until his second season in the league. In his second year, he recorded a total of 143 combined tackles and two sacks and his team finished with a record of 13-3. They would go on to the NFC Conference Championship Game against the New York Giants but lost 20-17 in overtime.
In his third season, he came out with a strong 148 combined tackles and two sacks. That season, the team competed against the Baltimore Ravens for the title of Super Bowl XLVII champions, but they lost a close game 34-31.
Bowman and the 49ers saw their third Conference Championship Game in a row when they faced the Seattle Seahawks in a heated battle in January 2014. In the fourth quarter, Bowman suffered a gruesome injury to his left knee, tearing his MCL and ACL. He missed the entire 2014 season to recover from this injury.
Many were concerned about whether or not he could bounce back from the injury, and he proved the doubters wrong. In 2015, Bowman came back strong for arguably his best season yet. He completed the season with a career-high of 154 combined tackles and 2.5 sacks.
2016 is expected to be a huge season for the seven-year veteran. While making extensive changes under new head coach Chip Kelly, the 49ers felt that they needed to extend their top linebacker for an additional four years. This extension comes with three years remaining on Bowman’s previous contract.
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