American · Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Born 23 October 1997American defensive end who became one of the NFL's premier pass rushers, leading the league in sacks in 2022 and winning back-to-back Defensive Player awards.
Nicholas John Bosa was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1997. His father John Bosa and uncle Joey Bosa both played in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers selected him second overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year award in 2019. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 — producing 18.5 sacks and a statistical season that analysts rated as the finest defensive performance of the decade. He signed a five-year, $170 million contract extension in 2023 — the largest contract ever given to a non-quarterback in NFL history at that time. His combination of pass rush moves — his swim move, spin, speed rush and bull rush are all elite — with the awareness to set the edge against the run makes him the most complete defensive end in the sport. He reached Super Bowl LVIII with San Francisco, losing to Kansas City. His social media presence — including politically charged comments that generated media coverage — has made him a figure of discussion beyond the field. His family's three-generation NFL lineage is unique in the sport's modern era.
Dominant pass rushing, NFL sacks leader, multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards
How They Played
Explosive first step, technical hand usage, relentless motor, and exceptional bend around the edge
Lasting Impact
One of the premier defensive ends of his generation, establishing himself as a game-changing pass rusher
Career Honours
- Super Bowl LVIII (runner-up)
- Defensive Player of the Year 2x (2022, 2023)
- Pro Bowl 4x
- All-Pro 3x
- NFL sacks leader 2022
- NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2019)
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
| Team | Period | Fee | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 2019–2024 | $33.5M (2nd overall pick, 2019 NFL Draft) | 71 |
American Athletes