SANTA CLARA — Linebacker NaVorro Bowman entrenched himself in 49ers lore with amazing displays in his No. 53 jersey, especially during their 2011-13 playoff peak and on a Candlestick-closing pick-six.

Subbed out twice last game to his dismay, Bowman wanted out for good and got his release granted Friday by the winless 49ers, but only after they explored a trade throughout the league and nearly consummated one with an undisclosed franchise, general manager John Lynch said.

“We thought we had something pretty good. And we did,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of a trade. “And it really didn’t work out the best way that Bo wanted. And so, we’re not going to sit there and try to be greedy with anything. Especially with who we’re dealing with.”

Bowman, 29, did not hide his displeasure after Sunday’s 26-23 overtime loss at Indianapolis, fuming over being subbed out in favor of Brock Coyle for a couple series.

“I don’t know, man,” Bowman said Sunday about coming off the field. “We had a conversation and, uh, I don’t know — they’re doing what they want to do and, I don’t know. I don’t like it.”

Lynch said the 49ers called every team in the league and had a trade in place with one, but Bowman balked at it and preferred going on his own to find a different suitor.

“We felt he earned the right to have some options and some choices that he deemed the right ones for him,” Lynch said. “In the end, he chose he’d rather look at all 31 teams. We granted his request there.”

His contract, extended only last year, might have impeded where Bowman might land, and now he can negotiate a new deal with his ideal team. Like our San Francisco 49ers Facebook page for more 49ers news, commentary and conversation.

“Some people will question it, but I truly feel it’s best for us and truly feel its best for Bo,” Lynch said.

Coach Kyle Shanahan claimed after Sunday’s game and again Monday the 49ers planned to keep Bowman “fresh” by resting him a couple series. Bowman’s 353 defensive snaps are more than any linebacker in the league.

“In the scheme we play, being a little different than what he’s done in the past, he’s got to run a lot more, got to cover a lot more ground,” Shanahan said. “Thought it would help Bo out to play at a higher level if we took him out a couple series throughout the game. Thought it would save his legs more, give him the energy and burst he needed to play in the scheme.

“He respectfully disagreed.”

Thanks @NBowman53 for such an amazing career with the Niners. Wish you the best as keep marching towards Canton https://t.co/O6NuEB3GC6 — Jed York (@JedYork) October 14, 2017

Bowman sat down with Shanahan and Lynch after Thursday’s practice to discuss his future, and they agreed to explore a trade. Shanahan told his players about Bowman’s impending release Friday morning.

“Bo can help another team and I hope he gets to a spot he feels is a better situation for him,” Shanahan said. “This is not a fun decision.”

Logical landing spots could be the Raiders, Dallas Cowboys or Washington, a few miles up from his child home.

Rookie linebacker Reuben Foster, drafted in the first round as Bowman’s heir apparent, took the news hard. In one last act of mentorship, Bowman relayed a message to Foster, telling him that football may be in your heart but “it’s just a business, at the end of the day.”

“It’s tough because we made a bond,” Foster said. “As you know, that’s my brother. But at the end of the day it is a business. Wherever he goes, he’s going to do great. His career is not over with yet. Trust me.”

Bowman, an eighth-year veteran, leads the 49ers with 38 tackles in his return from an October 2016 Achilles tear. It was his multiple-ligament tear in the 2013 season’s NFC Championship Game at Seattle that derailed his career, at a time he arguably was the league’s best defender. Like our San Francisco 49ers Facebook page for more 49ers news, commentary and conversation.

Bowman was unavailable for comment Friday. He briefly appeared at the 49ers facility, center Daniel Kilgore noting he gave him a quick hug before practice.

“I was completely blindsided by it, at the beginning,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said of learning in the team meeting about Bowman’s release.

Left tackle Joe Staley, an 11th-year veteran with the only tenure that was longer than Bowman’s, said Friday’s move surprised everyone even though “the NFL is a fast-moving business and things happen.”

“I have a lot of great memories of NaVorro,” Staley added. “We played a lot of football together, won a lot of games together.”

Talk of a potential Bowman trade first surfaced in May, stemming from a report by former NFL executive Mike Lombardi and promptly disputed by the 49ers brass. Lynch insisted Friday he nor Shanahan sought to trade Bowman back then. For complete 49ers coverage follow us on Flipboard.

The 49ers (0-5) travel Friday afternoon to Washington. FedEx Field is only six miles north of Bowman’s hometown, Forestville, Maryland.

Lynch said Bowman’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, requested Monday to begin trade talks, then relayed Friday morning that Bowman would be willing to accept a reduced role. The 49ers, however, thought it was best to move on at that point.

Bowman was a 2010 third-round draft pick, four-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. He hasn’t shown the same agility or speed this season in his second comeback from a left-leg injury in four years.

Neither Shanahan nor Lynch critiqued Bowman’s play Friday, and the coach praised how well he played in all but the Week 3 loss on short rest against the Los Angeles Rams.

Bowman is making $6.75 million base salary this season as part of a four-year extension he signed last year under former GM Trent Baalke. Bowman’s salary-cap figure next year would have soared to $12 million, and he’s expected to count some $5 million in dead space.

Finances, however, are not what would push the 49ers to deal Bowman, who was steamed with the decision to come out of Sunday’s game. Bowman has constantly referenced being on a young team amid the 49ers’ freefall since 2014.

Foster’s arrival in the first round of this year’s draft indicated to many that Bowman’s tenure could be closing. But the 49ers opened the season with Foster at weak-side linebacker and Bowman at the signal-calling, “Mike” linebacker spot. Next year, it’s conceivable Foster shifts to Bowman’s spot and Malcolm Smith serves at the weak-side linebacker; Smith was lost in August to a season-ending pectoral tear.

Related Articles 49ers analysis: Three highlights despite the Bosa-Garoppolo carnage

Kurtenbach: It’s too early to write off battered 49ers

49ers fear Nick Bosa will be out for season with ACL injury

49ers voice complaints about turf at MetLife Stadium, play there again next Sunday

49ers beat Jets, but lose top players — Dieter’s instant analysis Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Thursday the 49ers planned to continue to rest Bowman a couple series, no matter how that agitated him. “I would expect Bowman to be the most angry human being in the entire world,” Saleh said. “I would expect nothing else. I would expect him to fight tooth and nail to come off the field and I would expect him to fight tooth and nail to get back on the field.”

Bowman has made 808 regular-season tackles in his No. 53 uniform for the 49ers, and perhaps his most memorable play was an interception return for a touchdown in their final game at Candlestick Park in 2013.

“Everyone in this locker room has the upmost respect for Bo, but I think we also have the utmost respect for Kyle and John and what they’re looking for in building, too,” quarterback Brian Hoyer said. “It’s one of those things that comes along. It’s not easy for anybody but it’s part of the NFL and part of the job.”

NOTES

— Foster (ankle) and safety Eric Reid (knee) practiced for a third straight day and are listed as questionable as they seek to return from Weeks 1 and 2 injuries, respectively.

— Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (back) did not practice this week and is out. Undrafted rookie Jeremy McNichols is on the practice squad and could be promoted to fill the roster spot Bowman vacated.

— Also questionable are safety Adrian Colbert (hamstring), lineabacker Dekoda Watson (groin) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (concussion).

— Washington ruled out cornerback Josh Norman and backup tackle Ty Nsekhe. Doubtful are running back Rob Kelly (ankle) and safety Deshazor Everett, while left tackle Trent Williams (knee) is questionable.