Nick Bosa

Bosa was born into an extensive athletic lineage with deep ties to professional football. His father, John Bosa, played defensive end for the Miami Dolphins after being drafted in the first round in 1987. His older brother, Joey Bosa, also plays as an NFL defensive end for the Los Angeles Chargers. Growing up, the two brothers shared the nicknames Big Bear for Joey and Smaller Bear for Nick.

Other members of his family who played in the NFL include his uncle Eric Kumerow, who was also a first-round selection by the Dolphins, his cousin Jake Kumerow, his grandfather Palmer Pyle, and his great-uncle Mike Pyle. He is also the great-grandson of former Chicago Outfit figure Tony Accardo. When Bosa was seven years old, he insisted on playing football despite his parents initially wishing he would pursue other sports, choosing to play on the defensive line from the start of his youth career.

Away from football, Bosa was appointed in July 2025 to serve on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

Bosa attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was a four-year starter and earned multi-year all-state honors. In 2012, he shared a single high school season on the roster alongside his brother Joey. Regarded as a five-star recruit coming out of high school, he committed to Ohio State University to play college football for the Buckeyes.

During his 2016 freshman season at Ohio State, Bosa played in all 13 games and recorded 29 tackles with five sacks, earning Freshman All-American recognition from ESPN. As a sophomore in 2017, he became a primary starter, recording 34 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and a team-leading 8.5 sacks. For his performances, he was named a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection and received the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award.

In September 2018, three games into his junior campaign, Bosa suffered a core muscle injury against TCU that required surgery. In October 2018, he chose to withdraw from Ohio State for the remainder of the season to focus on his rehabilitation and prepare for the upcoming professional draft.

The San Francisco 49ers selected Bosa with the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He made an immediate impact in his debut season, tallying nine sacks, 47 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble across 16 regular-season games. His performances earned him the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, matching the honor his brother Joey won in 2016.

Bosa helped lead the 49ers defense during their run to Super Bowl LIV following a 13-3 regular season. In the postseason, he contributed four sacks, including two against Kirk Cousins in the Divisional Round and a strip-sack on Patrick Mahomes during the Super Bowl, which ended in a 31-20 defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs.

His second professional season was interrupted early in September 2020, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets, sidelining him for the rest of the year.

Bosa returned for the 2021 season and started all 17 regular-season games, finishing with 15.5 sacks and a league-leading 21 tackles for loss. His pass-rushing anchored the 49ers through another deep playoff run, where they reached the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams.

In 2022, Bosa turned in a career year by leading the NFL with 18.5 sacks and 48 quarterback hits. His dominant play propelled San Francisco to the top-ranked defense in the league and earned him the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, the Deacon Jones Award, and first-team All-Pro honors.

Ahead of the 2023 campaign, Bosa agreed to a five-year contract extension with the 49ers, setting a record as the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. He recorded 10.5 sacks during the 2023 regular season and tallied two sacks in the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions, helping the franchise advance to Super Bowl LVIII.