If there’s one thing the 49ers know how to do, it’s build a defense that can take over games. But in 2025, that identity cracked.
The pass rush - once the engine of San Francisco’s defensive dominance - sputtered to a league-worst 20 sacks. Injuries played a massive role.
Nick Bosa went down with a torn ACL. So did Mykel Williams.
And without that front-four pressure, the secondary found itself hanging on for dear life.
Now, heading into the 2026 offseason, there’s a name floating around that could help bring the juice back up front: Joey Bosa.
Yes, that Joey Bosa - Nick’s older brother and former Ohio State teammate. For the first time since they wore scarlet and gray, there’s a real chance the Bosa brothers could be reunited on the same NFL sideline. And while it’s still just a rumor at this point, the fit makes a lot of sense on paper.
Joey is coming off a one-year stint with the Buffalo Bills where he signed for $12.6 million and showed he’s still got something left in the tank. In 15 games, he racked up five sacks, nine tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and 54 total pressures. No, those aren’t peak Bosa numbers, but here’s the kicker - those stats would’ve led the 49ers in every major pass-rushing category last season.
Even in a year where he wasn’t at his most explosive, Joey was still disruptive. And that’s exactly what this defense needs.
From a schematic standpoint, the pairing has real teeth. The 49ers have long leaned on Mykel Williams as a versatile piece - someone who can kick inside on passing downs and create matchup nightmares.
Nick Bosa, when healthy, is still one of the most feared edge rushers in football. Add Joey into that mix as a rotational weapon, and suddenly the defensive line starts to look dangerous again.
Imagine this: early downs feature Nick and Williams setting the tone. Then, on third-and-long, the 49ers roll out a package with both Bosa brothers crashing off the edge and Williams collapsing the pocket from the interior. That’s the kind of alignment that keeps offensive coordinators up at night.
But there are questions - and fair ones. Joey Bosa is 30 now.
He’s not the every-down force he once was, and durability has always been a concern. Spotrac projects his next deal in the $13 million range, likely another one-year contract.
That’s a significant chunk of cap space for a team already carrying plenty of injury risk.
Still, if the 49ers are looking for a high-upside swing to fix their pass rush without overcommitting long-term, this is the kind of move that could pay off. Joey wouldn’t need to be a 60-snap-a-game guy. He’d be a chess piece - a situational disruptor who knows how to win off the edge and wouldn’t need to carry the load alone.
And let’s not ignore the intangible factor here: two Bosa brothers on the same line, chasing quarterbacks like it’s 2016 in Columbus again. That’s more than a headline - it’s a potential spark for a defense that lost its edge last season.
The 49ers have some decisions to make this offseason. Reuniting the Bosa brothers won’t fix everything, but it might just be the kind of bold, calculated move that brings the fear factor back to San Francisco’s front four.