Ex-49ers LB NaVorro Bowman discusses retirement, playing next to Patrick Willis, the “Pick at the Stick”

It sounds like former NFL linebacker NaVorro Bowman is enjoying life after football. He is spending time with his family in Washington D.C. — where he calls home — and he gets to watch his son play basketball. The fan-favorite spent eight seasons in the NFL, earned three Pro Bowl selections, and is a four-time All-Pro.

The San Francisco 49ers made Bowman a third-round draft pick out of Penn State in 2010. He played all but 10 career games with San Francisco. On Monday, the team signed him to a one-day contract so the linebacker could retire with the 49ers. The next day, San Francisco placed him on the reserve/retirement list, officially closing a chapter in Bowman's life.

Bowman joined 95.7 The Game on Wednesday and discussed retiring with the team that gave him his chance in the league. He wanted to retire with the 49ers back in June and announced his decision to leave the game while at the team's facilities. San Francisco, however, was unable to make it official until this week.

"I wanted to be a Niner at the end but it just didn't work out officially but it was great that they welcomed me back," Bowman said on the "Joe, Lo and Dibs" show. "The guys really opened their arms. I just enjoyed being back there.

"For them to give me a chance to be on their roster for one day, that means a lot … And my family, my kids can also see that I was a Niner. For a while, I put in a lot of work for them. I'm just grateful to have the career that I've had."

For several years, Bowman played alongside linebacker Patrick Willis and the two made up what many considered to be the best linebacker duo in football at the time. Bowman remembers what it was like joining a 49ers roster that already featured Willis.

"Me being a linebacker and really wanting to be the best also, I wanted to pick his brain, and really see exactly how he was on and off the field, how he became that type of linebacker," Bowman said. "And that's what you have to do in order to be great."

The two linebackers enjoyed success on the field during their few years together and complemented each other well.

"Sometimes, people didn't even know who was making the tackles," Bowman added. "That's just a testament to how hard we worked together, making sure we was doing everything right."

One of the most iconic plays in Bowman's illustrious career was what fans have dubbed as the "Pick at the Stick." The linebacker intercepted a pass by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and returned it 89 yards for a game-sealing touchdown in what was the final NFL game played at Candlestick Park. When Bowman looks back at that game, it isn't just the fan-favorite play that comes to mind.

"You guys won't forget [the pick-six] but I try to forget the first half of that game — or whatever it was," Bowman said. "I don't think it was exactly the first half, but there was an onside kick that was kicked to me, and I never missed an onside kick in practice. That's why the coaches trusted me being on the hands team.

"In that game, I missed it. The Falcons recovered it. They started driving, and I just kept thinking about that play. I remember Patrick saying, 'Let it go. We got you.'

"We stayed on it; we stayed fighting. I was able to get out of that scrum and come up with the ball and take it back (to the end zone). That was just a relief because I don't think we would have made it to the postseason if we wouldn't have made that stop."

You can listen to the entire conversation with Bowman below.