When the Los Angeles Chargers made the decision to release Joey Bosa last offseason, it didn't come lightly.
Bosa was a long-tenured member of the Los Angeles defense, playing nine season with the organization while earning a Defensive Rookie of the Year award and five Pro-Bowl nominations. But as he continued to face waning production and inconsistencies in availability, it became apparent that it was time to move on.
On the back of a relatively productive season with the Buffalo Bills, it seemed as though Bosa might still have a chance to extend his NFL career, either in Buffalo or elsewhere.
But according to insider Adam Schefter, who spoke about Bosa on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, it's very possible that the 30-year-old pass rusher has already played his last snap of NFL football. Schefter argues that, if a team was going to spring for Bosa, it likely would've already happened.
“It is more likely than not that Joey Bosa has played his last NFL down. Now, again, could a situation like the 49ers 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. But the fact of the matter is, I think if the Niners wanted to pair those two together, it probably would have happened already. I think if Joey Bosa wanted to play football, it probably would have happened already.”- Adam Schefter, The Pat McAfee Show
Joey Bosa's career has likely come to an end this offseason
It's not as though Bosa wasn't deserving of opportunities in 2026, or at least a training camp invite. Across 15 games with the Bills last season, the veteran pass rusher posted 47 total pressures, five sacks, and a league-leading five forced fumbles, per Pro Football Focus. He's certainly lost a step since his prime, but he still has the potential to be a disruptive presence in a room in need of additional depth.
The most clear fit this offseason was the San Francisco 49ers. Beyond the obvious storyline of reuniting Bosa with his brother, NIck, San Francisco certainly could use some depth at the position. Although they have a set of young pass rushers on the roster, the 49ers know better than any team how quickly injuries can decimate a room.
The Chicago Bears and Buffalo were also wish-casted as potential fits for Bosa this offseason. With the addition of Akheem Mesidor in the first round of the NFL Draft and a depth competition taking shape between Kyle Kennard, Bud Dupree, and UDFA Nadame Tucker, a potential Chargers reunion was never truly in the cards.
Of course, Bosa could always change his mind, and there would likely be at least one team willing to take a chance on him even as he entered his age-31 season. But players often know when it's time to hang up the cleats.
Although the end of Bosa's tenure in Los Angeles didn't go the way many would've wished, though, this certainly feels like a surprising ending to an overwhelmingly productive career.
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