They were teammates once before.
Joey Bosa was a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That season, his younger brother, Nick, was a freshman. They were starters, as one would expect, on the varsity defensive line.
Joey went to Ohio State. And by the time Nick got to Columbus, Ohio, for college, his older brother moved on to the NFL as the No. 3 overall pick of the then-San Diego Chargers.
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Nick was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last season after entering the NFL as the No. 2 overall pick of the 49ers a year ago.
Joey Bosa was scheduled to enter the final year of his contract. Of course, the now-Los Angeles Chargers could have held onto his rights for another season with the franchise tag. But the Chargers’ intent to retain him – along with huge financial hurdles -- did not prevent some from wondering if it were possible for the 49ers to end up with both Bosas in their primes.
And, yes, Joey and Nick Bosa were among those who wondered if it were possible for them to team up again.
“Yeah, we spent every waking hour together the past six months, so obviously we have conversations like that,” Nick Bosa said Thursday in a video call with Bay Area reporters.
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That thought came to an abrupt end last week when the Chargers wrapped up Joey Bosa to a five-year, $135 million contract.
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Joey Bosa’s $78 million in full guarantees at signing places Bosa’s contract at No. 4 all time, behind quarterbacks Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins, according to Pro Football Talk.
“We were pretty confident that the Chargers were going to help get it done,” Nick Bosa said. “I’m really happy they did. Joey loves his team and his teammates, so he’s happy. He’s just happy to be stress-free and able to just go to work now.
“Hopefully, maybe, later in our careers get together, but we’re focused on our own paths right now.”
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Joey Bosa this week predicted his brother might be in line for an even bigger deal when it’s time for his second contract. The 49ers hold Nick Bosa’s rights through the 2023 season with the fifth-year option. The sides can begin negotiating a new contract after the 2021 season.
"It will probably be a short-lived record, which is great because I'm happy to just set the bar and maybe my brother in a few years will surpass me,” he said. “I'm sure of that."