Joey Bosa is a free agent for the first time in his NFL career.
The former Ohio State star was released by the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday after nine years with the organization.
we've released Joey Bosa
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 6, 2025
https://t.co/oxrEU8xhPu pic.twitter.com/6WLZ7eJp12
Bosa’s release comes as he was set to have a cap hit for more than $36 million in 2025. By releasing Bosa, the Chargers saved more than $25 million on their 2025 salary cap.
The Chargers drafted Bosa with the No. 3 overall pick in 2016 after a spectacular three-year career at Ohio State in which he earned All-American and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors twice and helped lead the Buckeyes to the 2014 national championship.
In nine seasons with the Chargers, Bosa made five Pro Bowls, recording 343 total tackles with 87 tackles for loss, 72 sacks, 156 quarterback hits, 17 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He became the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player when he signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension with the Chargers in 2020, but he missed time with injuries in each of his last three seasons in Los Angeles.
Bosa is now free to sign with any NFL team, and there’s already speculation that he could reunite with his younger brother Nick Bosa in San Francisco, who’s expected to be in the market for a free-agent defensive end to line up opposite Nick.
The #Chargers star will have options joining his brother Nick in SF is one of them. His release saved the Chargers $25M against the cap. https://t.co/5zeFo8Upye
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2025
