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San Francisco 49ers: Early Team-Award Predictions for 2016 Season

By Chandler Wright

Feb 6, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers Anquan Boldin poses with the Walter Payton Man of the Year award at the NFL Honors press room at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers Anquan Boldin poses with the Walter Payton Man of the Year award at the NFL Honors press room at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of statues of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (left) and coach Bill Walsh at the 49ers museum before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of statues of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (left) and coach Bill Walsh at the 49ers museum before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The Bill Walsh Award

Established in 2004, The Bill Walsh Award is meant to Honor the best head coach in 49er history, the late Bill Walsh. Walsh coached the 49ers from 1979-1988, winning three Super Bowls. He compiled a record of 102-63-1 during his NFL coaching career, and was named Coach of the Decade for the 1980s. He was also named Coach of the Year twice, both in 1981 (the team’s first Super Bowl winning season) and in 1984 (the team went 15-1, best record in the NFL).

The Bill Walsh Award is voted on by only coaches and is a very special honor for players, who love being recognized by their teachers.

And the 2016 Bill Walsh Award goes to…

Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Inside Linebacker, NaVorro Bowman.

Why does Bowman win this award? Three reasons come to mind, besides of course his play reaching new heights and getting closer to pre-injury form.

One — Bowman has high character.

Since being drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft’s third round, Bowman has not once been disciplined by the NFL and Roger Goodell. In college though, Bowman was known for his marijuana use and received one years probation for his flirtation with the drug.

“Everyone around me has drugs in my life,” said Bowman. “I hate going home. When I go home, I want to be in State College.”

Bowman quickly matured though, vowing that he wouldn’t be back in the courtroom ever again.

“I’m telling you, I will not be back in this courtroom again,” Bowman said.

Two — Bowman is a leader in the 49ers locker room and has an established presence.

When you lead the NFL in tackles, coming off a gruesome 2014 playoff knee injury, people take notice. Especially Bowman’s peers, the NFL players themselves. They voted Bowman No. 61 on the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2016.

If players take notice, wouldn’t they tell their coaches to watch for that player on weeks when they’re going up against him? They certainly would and Chip Kelly definitely took note of Bowman when he was in Indianapolis earlier this year.

“I don’t think he was 100 percent this year, and to still lead the NFL in tackles is really impressive,” Kelly said. “Second year after the injury, you’re hoping he’s better than he was last year, and if he is, that’s a pretty good inside linebacker.”

Three — In the past, Patrick Willis and Frank Gore were the heart and soul of the 49ers and their individual units. Bowman is the heartbeat of the team now.

On Wednesday this week, 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil addressed the media and fans with his first press conference.

You can view that video here.

Around the 9:30 mark, O’Neil speaks on Bowman’s leadership and overall ability. Just his tone alone tells me how highly he views Bowman. O’Neil really thinks Bowman is ahead of everyone else, even though he said earlier that he didn’t care what the players did in the past.

Next: The Bobb McKittrick Award