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Joey Bosa (97) warms up prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium. Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Signing Joey Bosa would be a costly mistake for 49ers

By Chris Pownall | Last updated Feb 23, 2026 5:13 PM ET

There seems to be a recent push for Joey Bosa to sign with the San Francisco 49ers.

It makes for a great storyline in the offseason that would be fun to follow into the regular season. Two brothers who happen to be star edge-rushers. Can you imagine how many jerseys the 49ers would sell? It would be a “feel-good” story that would dominate headlines across social media.

But if you forget the storyline and the idea of a reunion, the reality is that when you look at the numbers and recent history, signing Bosa would be a costly mistake for San Francisco.

What matters more: Name or production?

All credit to Joey Bosa; he is still an impactful player in the NFL. He is a solid edge rusher, but he is no longer the dominant player that he used to be much earlier in his NFL career.

Bosa is still a recognizable star. He still commands respect. But he is no longer the consistent, game-wrecking force he was earlier in his career. His sack stats have trended downward considerably from 2021 to 10.5 and 2025, with only five. Bosa is still an experienced pass-rusher who can give you quality snaps, but he will not be winning a defensive player of the year award with those numbers.

Durability concerns

Bosa has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. From concussions, groin tears, foot injuries and other lower-body injuries, Bosa has been banged up heavily over the past five years or so.

Look at the total number of games played in the last several seasons:

2022: 5 games
2023: 9 games
2024: 14 games
2025: 15 games

The 49ers cannot afford to invest in an edge-rusher who will likely miss a lot of games. He has not played a full season since 2021 and has only played three complete seasons during his 10 years in the NFL. The 49ers need an edge-rusher who can be available to play, not just a big name.

Financial discipline

Bosa’s deal with the Buffalo Bills was for one year and $12.61M, with $12M of that being guaranteed. Even on a one-year deal with the 49ers, he would not come cheap.

Even on a short-term deal, Joey Bosa would not come cheap. The 49ers still have other needs to address, such as reinforcing their secondary, adding depth to their offensive line and adding some offensive weapons. While the idea of an emotional reunion between the Bosa brothers would be fun for everyone, it may not make financial sense.

Delaying the inevitable

Bosa does not serve the long-term issue that the 49ers presently have. They simply need to get younger. Even if the 49ers did sign him and he had a great season, they would still need to invest in the future for the edge-rusher position. Bosa would simply be a short-term fix.

Storylines don't win championships

Brother vs. Brother is always fun. The Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh Super Bowl made for great headlines. It was always compelling watching Eli and Peyton Manning play against each other. Travis Kelce against Jason Kelce in the Super Bowl made for some heartfelt moments. But the fun is short-lived, and in this situation, the 49ers need to be thinking about their future and should not pair Joey Bosa with his brother, Nick. With 10 seasons under his belt and diminishing performance, Bosa is not the future in San Francisco. Nostalgia does not win Super Bowls.

Chris Pownall

Chris Pownall is a Contributor to Yardbarker covering all major sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, college athletics, and the biggest storylines shaping the sports world. His work focuses on timely analysis, strong opinion, and the narratives fans are actually talking about. He also serves as an NFL Analyst for Last Word on Sports, where he provides in depth coverage and league wide perspective on the NFL

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