San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive end Nick Bosa spoke with the media on Friday. The 49ers made him the No. 2 overall pick on Thursday night. Here is everything Bosa had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
I gather number one won't be your jersey number this year. Have you settled on a number?
"No, not yet. I haven't even thought about it. I'll figure that out later."
What have these 24 hours been like for you?
"Hectic. Since the pick, you're pretty much running around making the rounds with media. I was with you in Nashville. Flew out early this morning, so haven't got much rest, but it's all good."
Has this been emotional for you? I saw the emotion your brother showed. Did that surprise you? How have your own emotions been?
"There's moments where your emotions get you, like when I got to my after-party and was hanging out with all of my friends and family. That's when it sinks in. When you're getting attacked by media, going around, it's kind of like you kind of suppress your emotions for that time. It was great to experience it with all of my family."
Did Los Angeles Chargers DE Joey Bosa's reaction surprise you?
"No. He's an emotional guy under that rough exterior."
I saw the video where I think it was the moment you found out, that seemed like a particularly emotional moment. What was going through your mind for those 30 seconds right after you found out?
"Relief. Just excitement. It's kind of like everything flashes before you, all the work you put in to get there. I couldn't be happier with where I ended up. So, that made me even more excited. You don't try to get too committed to one team in the process, but I was all-in to come here. I was really excited. Just all those emotions hitting you at one time."
What kind of background did you do on the 49ers just in terms of the legacy here with the franchise and the roster that they have in place, the one you're joining?
"I think it's the best roster for any team that's picking that high. Obviously, they had the injury last year which allowed them to pick that high. I think it's pretty awesome that I'm joining a team that's already assembled a pretty darn good squad. Just playing here, seeing the Super Bowl trophies around, it's definitely pretty cool."
When you got injured in October, were you worried that that was at stake, that being drafted high now was at-risk at that point?
"Yeah, whenever an injury happens, a lot of bad things go into your mind. Whether I'd be back that year, my Ohio State career was over, if I wasn't going to be as high a pick as I hoped, all of those things. But, once you think it through with your family and talk to the people you care about, you kind of set up a plan. You just have to think positively after that."
Given the fact that you also overcame an injury in high school, to become a dominant player in college, did that help you with this process, knowing that, to stay positive this time?
"Yeah. It can seem like the end of the world for somebody whose life is so dependent on football and revolves around football. It's definitely tough, but like I said, just even giving my high school coaches a call, talking it through with them, it makes getting through it a lot easier."
You said relating to some of the social media stuff that you said some things that were insensitive. Can you understand why some folks would find it to be offensive?
"Definitely. I definitely made some insensitive decisions throughout my life. I'm just excited to be here with a clean slate. I'm sorry if I hurt anybody. I definitely didn't intend for that to be the case. I think me being here is even better for me as a person because I don't think there's anywhere, any city that you could really be in that would help you grow as much as this one will. I'm going to be surrounded with people, all different kinds. I'm going to grow as a person and be on my own. College, you still have that support system around you. Now, I'm here. I'm going to be on my own. I'm going to grow up. I'm going to learn a lot of new things. I'm excited."
You said about former 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, you called him a clown. As a black man who was giving a voice to people who don't have a voice, do you still feel that same way?
"No. It wasn't directed towards that. It's not like I'm saying his stance and what he was doing, that's not what I was calling or talking about at all. It was just me, a specific thing that happened and me as a young kid, a thought popping into my head and boom, decided to tweet it out. Bad, bad decision. I respect what he's done. If it empowers anybody, then he's doing a good thing. I apologize for that."
Do you see the irony that you end up in San Francisco, given that?
"Yeah, it is kind of ironic."
What do you have to tell your teammates? Do you feel like there's a part of you that needs to explain kind of some of those posts that you made on social media and how they view you and accept you?
"I think once they get in and I meet the guys and they learn who I am, I don't think there's going to need any explaining. I think they're going to see who I am as a person and that'll be enough."
Why did you feel the need to scrub your tweets and your previous tweets and social media posts that kind of revealed a certain mindset, if you will?
"It's kind of what prospects do a lot of the time. My agent took control of my social media when it comes to that. I wasn't going through and saying, 'Delete this, delete this, delete this.' He just went through and deleted whatever he thought would rub people the wrong way. I didn't think people would take that as me trying to hide things."
How is your use going to be going forward? Are you going to be very hesitant to do it? Are you going to be more cautious about putting your opinions out there?
"I have learned a lot in the past couple months. I'm definitely going to think a lot more before I send something out."
I see your mom and dad are here. Is there anything that you're looking forward to doing first in San Francisco, now that you're finally here?
"Probably just go get some food, check out the City. I'm sure my mom will find some good spots for us to go eat."
Have you been able to talk to defensive line coach Kris Kocurek yet?
"Yeah, I just did. He's sitting back there staring me down. No, we talked on the phone last night and he's jacked up and I'm jacked up, too. It's going to be a lot of fun."
You say you're jacked up, but you seem very, very quiet and reserved. Can you talk about the different sides of you?
"Yeah. My emotions kind of are deceiving sometimes, or how I act. I'm definitely kind of monotone and quiet. But, when I get out on the field, I take some of that aggression out."
You touched on it last night a little bit last night, but general manager John Lynch called it an indelible moment when at the Rose Bowl you went and visited with your teammates. What do you remember, specifically, about that day and just why it was so special for you?
"Whenever you're around your college teammates for so many hours of the day, you go through camp together, you go through a season together or multiple seasons together, you just build a really close bond. When you aren't with them for an extended period of time, it's kind of weird. Just after months of not seeing them, just to see all of my teammates was really awesome and see all of my coaches. I just love all those guys, so to see them again was great. Then, I got to meet with [vice president of player personnel] Adam [Peters] and John. It was a little foreshadowing."
That was your first introduction to them?
"Yeah."
What did you guys talk about?
"Trying to think back. I think it was just a friendly conversation. Talked about some of the guys on our team that they might be looking at."
Were you as surprised, John said it was so indelible just because everyone kind of stopped practice? Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer generally doesn't let that happen. Were you surprised by that reaction in the moment?
"No. I think I was a pretty big part of the team. I think I built a lot of really good relationships there. I was hoping for a good reaction from them."
Spending all of that time with your brother in Southern California, is there anything specifically you picked up on in terms of being a professional and what everything away from the field, that mindset, is going to look like for you?
"Yeah. Just maintaining your body, eating right. He's got a chef out there. She's amazing. She comes over like once every couple days. So, just the nutrition and maintenance. He has a gym in his garage that he built. Just constant maintenance throughout an NFL season is key."
I assume you're happy to be a short plane ride away. Does it mean anything to you to be close in the same state?
"Yeah, definitely. Whenever we have some off-time, I could just zip down there and go hang out with him. It's definitely better than me being across the country and not being able to see him for months on end."
Do you view your game as similar to his? If there is a big difference, what do you think it is between the two of you?
"I think we play pretty similar. We use speed and power. We're not one-dimensional players. I think, yeah, we have a lot of similarities in our game, but I'm just excited to start my own journey and show off some of my attributes."
Could you have returned and played last year?
"No. It was a season-ender, for sure."
While you were rehabbing, how much NFL did you get a chance to watch? Did you watch DL Dee Ford and DL DeForest Buckner in games last year?
"He was on the Chiefs, so he played Joey twice. So, I was watching him. I like what he does. He's a really, really great speed rusher. He switches it to power and he'll knock you on your butt. I'm just excited to get with some guys that have been in the league for a while and know the ins and outs and the tackles. Just pick up tips from them and show them some of the stuff I've learned, as well."