49ers fans would love Chargers hiring NaVorro Bowman under Jim Harbaugh
By Peter Panacy
49ers fans have to be thrilled at Jim Harbaugh returning to NFL ranks. If he's able to hire NaVorro Bowman, it'll be even sweeter.
Queue up a week for San Francisco 49ers nostalgia.
Not long ago, former Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh was officially sworn in as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers after a successful term at the NCAA level at the University of Michigan where he helped win a national championship.
Then, during the 2024 NFL Honors awards show, legendary San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis was announced as being part of this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee class.
Willis' linebacking partner (and close friend), NaVorro Bowman, needed his moment in the spotlight, too, right? And if there was a way to somehow loop in Harbaugh, it'd truly help 49ers fans recall those glory years of the early 2010s, too.
Well, that appears to be in the works. Thankfully so.
Rumor has it Chargers will hire former 49ers LB NaVorro Bowman in coaching role
Bowman, who spent all but 10 of his 99 professional regular-season games with the Niners and was a four-time first-team All-Pro, retired on a one-day contract with San Francisco and has mostly been out of NFL circles ever since.
That could change, though, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Per Rapoport, Harbaugh and the Chargers are poised to hire Bowman to be their new linebackers coach:
Reunion: The #Chargers are targeting former #49ers All-Pro LB NaVorro Bowman to be their new LBs coach, bringing him back together with Jim Harbaugh, per sources.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 9, 2024
The two sides will have to come to an agreement on a deal, but the belief is it gets done. Bowman, who helped an SF… pic.twitter.com/kFWhA1RaBM
Related story: 15 most beloved Niners players in franchise history
That would be fantastic.
It appears as if former 49ers greats under Harbaugh are beginning to make their respective dents at the coaching level, including running back Frank Gore, who's now in an advisory role with the Niners.
While it would have been awesome to see Bowman somehow fill a simiilar job with San Francisco instead of the Bolts, getting No. 53 back into an NFL fold under a fan-favorite coach like Harbaugh is nevertheless a pretty sweet deal.
Whenever Harbaugh, Bowman and the Chargers visit the 49ers, they'll surely get a very warm welcome.
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