SANTA CLARA — NaVorro Bowman will miss the smell of football.
The former 49ers linebacker came to OTAs on Wednesday to announce his retirement from the NFL. After practice, as he stood in the huddle with the rest of the players, he just smelled them.
“They all were funky,” Bowman said in the 49ers media work room. “I remember smelling like that. I have on a clean white shirt, but I still wanted to give them hugs. I still wanted to touch the pads. Guys said, ‘You look like you still play.’ I can, but I’m content with (life).