The San Francisco 49ers were believed to be highly interested in signing Bosa, the older brother of the team's star defensive end, Nick Bosa. The siblings last played together at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, where Joey was a senior and Nick was a freshman. While they have played for different NFL teams, they've continued to train together each offseason.
RELATED
The Miami Dolphins were also reportedly interested in the veteran pass rusher.
The Chargers drafted Bosa (6-5, 280) out of Ohio State with the No. 3 overall pick in 2016. Last season, he recorded 22 tackles (five for a loss), 13 quarterback hits, five sacks, and two forced fumbles over 14 games (nine starts), playing 50 percent of the defensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference.
The Chargers announced Bosa's release on March 5. There was speculation that the 49ers were preparing to sign him after parting ways with defensive end Leonard Floyd, last year's top free-agent acquisition.
Injuries have been a concern for Bosa, who has missed 23 games over the past three seasons. The 29-year-old's last double-digit sack season came in 2021, which may have raised red flags for the 49ers as they look to rebound from an injury-plagued 2024 season that ended with a 6-11 record and a missed playoff berth.
Despite the setbacks, Bosa has enjoyed a highly productive NFL career. Over nine seasons, he has amassed 343 tackles (87 for a loss), 156 quarterback hits, 72 sacks, three passes defensed, and 17 forced fumbles in 107 career games (93 starts).
San Francisco's pass rush struggled last season, earning a 68.1 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 18th in the league.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers have a pass rush problem, and the solution isn't what you think
Much has been made—and was made weekly during the season—of the 49ers' lack of a pass rush. The team was last in the league in sacks and last in pressure rate. Since the defense had almost double the sacks in 2024 (20 vs. 37) with a healthy Nick Bosa, it stands to reason... -
49ers bolster pass rush in PFF's latest 2026 NFL mock draft
The San Francisco 49ers earned a 62.9 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) during the 2025 season, with only four NFL teams posting a worse mark. Injuries played a significant role in the struggles, as the defense lost veteran Nick Bosa and last year's first-round... -
49ers mailbag: Will SF trade Mac Jones? Is there anything to electrical substation talk? Will 49ers be spenders in free agency?
Can't get enough of the San Francisco 49ers? We can help with that. We're back with a brand-new 49ers Webzone Mailbag. We asked for your best 49ers questions, and you came through with several good ones. Thank you for submitting those. Before we jump into the mailbag, be sure... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan excited about Jordan James heading into 2026 season
Jordan James saw limited action for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2025 season, playing just three offensive snaps—all coming in Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts. He added 14 offensive snaps in the playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, including his first career...