Massive Joey Bosa update emerges amid free-agency rumors

Veteran defensive end Joey Bosa remained a free agent through the start of the NFL's summer break, and some have wondered if he could sign with a team before training camp starts in late July. 

During the latest edition of his podcast, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter suggested that interested clubs are no longer banking on Bosa inking a deal this summer. 

Has Joey Bosa made a career-defining decision? 

"It is more likely than not that Joey Bosa has played his last NFL down," Schefter explained, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "Now again, could a situation...come along that entices him enough to come out and play again? Yeah, absolutely. We saw it happen last year with Philip Rivers. So you never know when a player is fully done and when he's not done."

Stories throughout the spring linked Bosa with clubs in need of help at the position, such as the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. The 49ers already employ star pass-rusher Nick Bosa, Joey's brother, but Nick interestingly said in late May that he thought Joey was "working on his golf game." 

Do 49ers, Joey Bosa already have an understanding about possible working relationship? 

"But the fact of the matter is, I think if the Niners wanted to pair those two together, it probably would have happened already," Schefter added about the brothers. "I think if Joey Bosa wanted to play football, it probably would have happened already. And I think he's perfectly content to sit on the sideline, with all the money he's made, and not have to go to training camp, not have to put himself into a situation that he doesn't want to be in, and be highly selective to choose an opportunity to play again — and that's even if he does that, which I would guess there's a real chance he doesn't."

Most recently, Joey Bosa spent the 2025 campaign with the Buffalo Bills. In total, the 30-year-old tallied five sacks, five forced fumbles, 29 total tackles (17 solo) and two passes defended over what may go down as the final 15 regular-season games of his professional career. 

Then again, perhaps the 49ers or a different team could convince him to sign a short-term deal at some point before the playoffs get underway.