Star linebacker Joey Bosa’s mother, Cheryl, didn’t take long to make her wishes known when the Los Angeles Chargers released her son on Wednesday.
Though the Chargers released Joey Bosa, that had more to do with finances than production on the field. He had five sacks, two forced fumbles, 13 quarterback hits, and 22 tackles, five for loss, in 2024.
Bosa had a two-year, $40.36 million deal with the Chargers, and the team saved $25.36 million against the cap with his release. The Chargers now have $90.69 million in salary cap space.
In 2016, the Chargers took Bosa with the No. 3 pick in the draft, and he became a force right away. Bosa tallied 10.5 sacks, a forced fumble, 21 quarterback hits, and 41 tackles, 17 for loss, as a rookie. That earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year.
He then made the first of five Pro Bowl selections in 2017 as he garnered 12.5 sacks, 70 tackles, four forced fumbles, and 21 quarterback hits. Bosa continued strong production with two more seasons of 10-plus sacks between 2019 and 2021.
Other than his short-lived 2022 season due to a groin injury, Bosa has tallied at least five sacks in every season of his career. Injuries have been a problem for the last three seasons, though, as Bosa has only played in 28 games over that span, which includes 14 in 2024.
If healthy, the 49ers could get a steal in free agency with Bosa if the team goes that route and makes Cheryl Bosa’s dream come true. San Francisco has $33.79 million in salary cap space, and Joey Bosa’s recent injury history could merit a smaller contract than his previous $15 million guaranteed from 2024.
Nick Bosa, Joey’s younger brother, has been a star with the 49ers since the team took him out of Ohio State with the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft. In six seasons, Nick Bosa has tallied 62.5 sacks, 261 tackles, nine pass deflections, 11 forced fumbles, and 34 quarterback hits. He also won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, and he has made five Pro Bowls and All-Pro once.
In addition, Nick Bosa has played in two Super Bowls and 15 playoff games in his career, and the 49ers look to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2024 season to make another Super Bowl run. Joey Bosa hasn’t enjoyed that level of postseason success with just four playoff games in his career.
Because of their age difference and Joey Bosa leaving Ohio State early, the two haven’t played together on the same team since growing up. Cheryl Bosa has been faced with choosing which of her sons to watch on any given weekend during the football season because of that.
Football runs in the family for the Bosas as the brothers’ father, John Bosa, played in the NFL for three seasons with the Miami Dolphins from 1987 to 1990 followed by a short stint with the New York Jets on the practice squad in 1991. When the 49ers selected Nick Bosa in 2019, the Bosa family joined a rare group of football families to produce three NFL draft picks. Only the Mannings (Archie, Peyton, and Eli) and Matthews (Casey, Clay, and Clay Jr.) had that claim to fame previously.
The Bosa brothers could add another rarity if the two join forces in San Francisco and win a Super Bowl. Potential history aside, adding Joey Bosa would give the 49ers another strong edge rusher up front as the team only had 36 sacks last year.
