Faithful Flashbacks #30: The Pick at the Stick

Faithful Flashbacks revisits NaVorro Bowman’s Pick at the Stick, the final regular-season touchdown at Candlestick Park.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Jul 30, 2026, 8:00 AM Updated: 10:12 am

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In honor of the San Francisco 49ers celebrating their 80th anniversary, Sactown Sports is kicking off a countdown of the 80 greatest moments in the franchise’s illustrious history in reverse order called Faithful Flashbacks.

From Super Bowl-winning plays to overperforming teams that had minimal expectations, there’s plenty to choose from the team with five titles under its belt.

The voting was conducted by a handful of the Sactown Sports’ staffers before results were compiled into a full list that will count down to the 49ers’ 2026 NFL regular season debut against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.

Faithful Flashbacks -- San Francisco 49ers 80 Best Moments

Coming in at No. 30 on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown of the 80 best moments in franchise history is NaVorro Bowman’s “Pick at the Stick.”

The 49ers’ final regular-season game at Candlestick Park already carried enough weight heading into the night as the official sendoff. The stadium had been home to most of the franchise’s defining moments, and plenty of them were featured in this countdown, from the early 1970s through the dynasty years and into the Jim Harbaugh era. It was never the cleanest or most comfortable venue, but that was the identity of Candlestick.

By 2013, the 49ers were trying to extend one more playoff run before leaving for Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. They had been to the NFC Championship Game in each of Coach Harbaugh’s first two seasons and reached the Super Bowl the year before, but they still needed to finish the regular season with a win to officially punch their ticket back into the postseason.

The setup against Atlanta turned out to be more dramatic than the 49ers wanted. San Francisco had the lead late, but the Falcons scored, recovered an onside kick, and suddenly had a chance to either tie the game or take the lead. A night that was supposed to be a Candlestick sendoff was teetering on a tragic ending.

Bowman had been involved in the onside kick, but it was his next moment that holds more dear memories in the minds of 49ers’ fans. Matt Ryan’s pass near the right sideline was broken up, and Bowman grabbed it cleanly before running it back 89 yards for a touchdown. It was one last regular season eruption inside that park.

In these crazy times, I felt like blessing the timeline with the Pick at The Stick! Enjoy‼️ | #49ers #FBF pic.twitter.com/nR7EvDeh3W

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers_) March 14, 2020

The 49ers won 34-24, clinched a playoff berth, and closed the regular-season history of Candlestick Park with one of the most memorable defensive plays in franchise history. For all the quarterbacks, receivers, and offensive highlights tied to that stadium, its final signature moment belonged to one of the best linebackers of the era.

San Francisco still played postseason football, but the Candlestick chapter was ending. What a way for it to conclude.

More Faithful Flashbacks from Sactown Sports

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

Late July 2026 – NFL Training Camps open
Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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