San Francisco 49ers star pass rusher Nick Bosa was selected to his second Pro Bowl. However, many were surprised that he wasn't named an All-Pro after racking up 52 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 32 quarterback hits, and a career-high 15.5 sacks, doing so after returning from an ACL injury.
Two players who have played with Bosa—one current teammate and one former teammate—are shocked by the level of disrespect toward the talented defensive end's accomplishments during the 2021 season.
"Bosa had an unbelievable year, never going to get enough credit," cornerback Richard Sherman said during a discussion with linebacker Fred Warner on The Richard Sherman Podcast. "Fifteen-and-a-half sacks, and they act like he had five. My goodness.
"You all not going to give him first-team All-Pro? You all not going to give him Comeback Player of the Year? I hear you with [Bengals QB Joe Burrow]. I hear you, but not one [vote]? You all gave [Cowboys QB] Dak Prescott a few. Come on, now."
In the All-Pro voting, Bosa fell behind T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Robert Quinn, and Maxx Crosby. Bosa's head coach, Kyle Shanahan, was also shocked by the lack of respect Bosa garnered this past season. Shanahan couldn't believe his defensive star didn't earn an All-Pro selection and thinks he should have been in the discussion for other NFL honors.
"I definitely think Bosa should be there; there's no doubt about that," Shanahan said in January. "I'm shocked that—I don't think people appreciate how good Bosa is, play-in and play-out. I've heard people talk about him for Comeback Player of the Year, and every time they say that, I can't believe he hasn't been mentioned in Defensive Player of the Year [talk]. So, that was a surprise to me."
Warner also expressed some disbelief during the discussion with Sherman.
"He should have been first-team All-Pro," Warner told Sherman. "He didn't even get second-team All-Pro, so the disrespect just keeps coming for him. He'll get his."
He'll get his, indeed. Bosa is eligible for a contract extension and will likely become the NFL's highest-paid defender. Most believe that will make him the NFL's first $30-million-a-year defender.
"No doubt. He'll get it where it matters most, and that's his pockets," Sherman commented. "I hear you. He's got to control all the rest of it, but they going to give him what he's just due."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Warner below.
