NaVorro Bowman’s impact still ripples through the 49ers’ roster despite his departure early in the 2017 season. His retirement Tuesday offered a chance for some his of his former teammates to reflect on their time with him, including two players who never played on the same side of the ball as he did.
George Kittle and Trent Taylor were both rookies during what would become Bowman’s final NFL season. The two fifth-round picks are still operating on some of the principles they picked up from the veteran linebacker during their time together as teammates.
“He and Joe (Staley) have done a really good job of setting the standard of how you practice,” Kittle said according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. “NaVorro has always done a great job of high intensity every play, didn’t take plays off, ran to the ball, great vocal leader, everything you want in a guy.”
It’s not a surprise that Kittle picked up those nuances of Bowman’s approach. The third-year tight end goes about his business in a similar fashion.
Imitating the actions of a four-time All-Pro and highly-respected teammate is a good way to set oneself up for long-term success. Kittle has already experienced some of that with his record-setting 2018 campaign.
Taylor also used his short time with Bowman to soak up knowledge from the inside linebacker.
“Bowman was a great teammate,” Taylor said via Chan. “I enjoyed every second I played with him. I was just a rookie at the time but every now and then, we would have some conversations on the side. He would help me out with little stuff here and there, like what he thought of my game.”
There’s immense value in getting inside the mind of a high-quality, smart inside linebacker for a slot receiver like Taylor. Understanding how to operate underneath where linebackers typically lurk is vital, and Bowman was one of the best at covering receivers who lined up in that area of the field.
A back injury slowed Taylor down in his second season, but it was apparent in his rookie year that he has the tools to be a reliable pass catcher.
Bowman isn’t the primary reason Kittle and Taylor are on track for success, but the fact their short time with him still resonates says a lot about Bowman as a player.
He had a tremendous career with San Francisco, and his impact on the history of the club is undeniable. However, even though he’s retired, he’ll continue to have an effect on the 49ers’ roster through the things he taught his teammates while he was with the team.
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