49ers Predicted to Sign Brother of $23 Million Star Defender

The 49ers could add another Bosa brother to their pass-rushing arsenal.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 3:58am by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly considering signing Joey Bosa, the older brother of their star defensive end Nick Bosa, in free agency. Joey Bosa, a five-time Pro Bowler, is coming off a productive season with the Buffalo Bills where he led the NFL in forced fumbles. Adding the elder Bosa brother to play alongside his younger sibling would give the 49ers a formidable pass-rushing duo.

Why it matters

The 49ers struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season, finishing with just 20 sacks. Signing Joey Bosa, who has 77 career sacks, would significantly bolster their pass rush and make their defense even more difficult to game plan against.

The details

Joey Bosa, 31, is a free agent after spending the 2022 season with the Buffalo Bills. In 15 games, he recorded 29 tackles, 5 sacks, and a league-leading 5 forced fumbles. Bosa has made the Pro Bowl 5 times in his 7-year NFL career and would provide an immediate upgrade to the 49ers' pass-rushing unit.

  • Joey Bosa is currently an unrestricted free agent after the 2022 NFL season.

The players

Joey Bosa

A 31-year-old defensive end who is a five-time Pro Bowler and has 77 career sacks in the NFL.

Nick Bosa

Joey Bosa's younger brother, who is the star defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco 49ers

An NFL team based in San Francisco, California that is looking to improve their pass rush in free agency.

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What they’re saying

“Who wouldn't want to see the Bosa brothers together? Joey Bosa joining Nick Bosa in San Francisco would be fun.”

— Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports Writer (CBS Sports)

What’s next

The 49ers will need to decide if they want to pursue Joey Bosa in free agency and try to reunite the Bosa brothers on their defensive line.

The takeaway

Adding Joey Bosa to play alongside his brother Nick would give the 49ers one of the most dominant pass-rushing duos in the NFL, significantly improving their defense and making them an even tougher team to game plan against.