49ers Linked to Veteran Pass Rusher Joey Bosa in Free Agency

Reuniting the Bosa brothers in San Francisco could be a perfect fit for both player and team.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:38pm by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco 49ers are in need of pass-rushing help after generating just 20 sacks in 2025. According to reports, the team's best free agent target could be veteran defensive end Joey Bosa, who is coming off a 5-sack season with the Buffalo Bills. Bosa, the older brother of 49ers star Nick Bosa, has 77 career sacks over 10 NFL seasons and could provide an immediate boost to San Francisco's defense.

Why it matters

The 49ers' defense struggled to generate consistent pressure last season, and adding a proven pass rusher like Joey Bosa could help them return to being one of the league's top units. Reuniting the Bosa brothers would also be an intriguing storyline, as the two could form a formidable pass-rushing duo on opposite sides of the defensive line.

The details

Joey Bosa, who spent the first 8 seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, had 5 sacks for the Buffalo Bills in 2025 after signing with them as a free agent. The 49ers, who had just 20 sacks as a team last season, have been linked to Bosa as a potential free agent target this offseason as they look to bolster their pass rush. Bosa, who turns 32 this year, would provide an immediate veteran presence and proven production opposite his younger brother Nick, one of the league's elite edge rushers.

  • Joey Bosa is set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 15, 2026.

The players

Joey Bosa

A 10-year NFL veteran defensive end who has recorded 77 sacks, 96 tackles for loss, and 172 quarterback hits over his career. He spent the first 8 seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers before signing with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent in 2025.

Nick Bosa

Joey Bosa's younger brother, who is one of the NFL's elite edge rushers and a key part of the San Francisco 49ers' defense.

San Francisco 49ers

An NFL team that is in need of pass-rushing help after generating just 20 sacks as a team in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Edge Joey Bosa. Best Fit: San Francisco 49ers. A reunion with his younger brother would be a nice story, but bringing in Bosa is more about facts than feelings. The fact is, the 49ers need him.”

— Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report Writer (Bleacher Report)

What’s next

The 49ers will need to determine if they have the salary cap space to sign Joey Bosa when free agency opens on March 15, 2026. If they are able to reach a deal, it would reunite the Bosa brothers and provide a major boost to San Francisco's pass rush.

The takeaway

Signing Joey Bosa would be an obvious and logical move for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. The veteran pass rusher would not only fill a major need for the team, but also provide an intriguing storyline by reuniting with his younger brother Nick on the 49ers' defensive line. If the 49ers can make this signing work financially, it could pay major dividends for their defense in 2026 and beyond.