Joey Bosa

Joey Bosa is the son of former NFL player John Bosa and the older brother of Nick Bosa, who also played defensive end at Ohio State before joining the San Francisco 49ers. Other members of his football family include his cousin Jake Kumerow, uncle Eric Kumerow, grandfather Palmer Pyle and great-uncle Mike Pyle, all of whom played in the NFL.

Bosa has supported pediatric cancer research through the NFL's My Cause My Cleats program, including the #MoreThan4 campaign. He also discussed physical and mental well-being as part of the NFL's Mental Health Awareness Month campaign in 2021. Bosa has heterochromia iridium, with a blue left eye and a green right eye.

Bosa attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he played football and basketball. Rivals rated him a four-star recruit and ranked him as the fourth-best defensive end in his class. He committed to Ohio State in April 2012 and joined the Buckeyes in 2013.

As a freshman, Bosa started 10 of 14 games and recorded 44 tackles and 7.5 sacks, earning Freshman All-American honors. His sophomore season brought 13.5 sacks on 55 tackles, along with unanimous All-American recognition and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. He also received Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2014 and 2015.

Bosa recorded five sacks and an interception during his junior season and announced his intention to enter the 2016 NFL draft. In the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, he was ejected in the first quarter for a targeting penalty, while Ohio State won 44-28.

The San Diego Chargers selected Bosa third overall in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. He missed the first four weeks of his rookie season with a hamstring injury, then made his regular-season debut against the Oakland Raiders with two sacks despite playing 27 snaps.

Bosa finished his rookie season with 41 tackles, 10.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 12 games. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and selected to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 2017, he and Melvin Ingram formed a prominent pass-rushing partnership, while Bosa recorded 12.5 sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

A foot injury limited Bosa to seven games in 2018, but he returned in time to make his playoff debut with the Chargers. He recorded 11.5 sacks and 67 tackles in 2019, made another Pro Bowl and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording four sacks across games against the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears.

Bosa recorded a career-high seven forced fumbles in 2021 and earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection. A groin injury requiring surgery limited him to five games in 2022, and he later returned from injured reserve. He played nine games in 2023 and 14 games in 2024, recording 6.5 sacks and five sacks respectively. The Chargers released him on March 5, 2025, after he had played for the franchise in both San Diego and Los Angeles.

Bosa joined the Buffalo Bills in 2025 after leaving the Chargers. He forced four fumbles during his first four games with Buffalo, including two against the New York Jets, and later recorded another forced fumble with a strip-sack of Aaron Rodgers against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He finished the 2025 regular season with five sacks, 29 tackles and two passes defended. His five forced fumbles led the NFL that season and set a new Bills team record.