NaVorro Bowman

Bowman returned to San Francisco headquarters to let his retirement plans known. He spent nearly eight seasons there before being waived and finishing the 2017 campaign with the Raiders. The 31-year-old was named All-Pro four times and helped lead a stellar 49ers defense to three straight NFC Championship Games. A scary knee injury in the 2013 playoffs cost him the entire 2014 season. He will end his career with 877 tackles, 16.5 sacks, five interceptions, nine forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and one touchdown.

The Niners defense completely collapsed without Bowman this season. It is good to hear that he is getting back to physical activity, as it appears that he will have a full offseason to rehab at maximum velocity. His presence next season will automatically boost an historically bad defense.

The 49ers went 2-14 this season so this should not be surprising that Chip Kelly was fired, but Bowman seems to think that the locker room as a whole is displeased with the firing.

Bowman's torn Achilles was such a brutal injury for one of the better defensive players in the year and the road to recovery will be long and gruesome. We won't see Bowman on a football field until late in 2017.