Joey Bosa likely retiring at 30 years old as he remains free agent

Joey Bosa’s NFL career may have quietly reached the end.

The former No. 3 overall pick remains unsigned after spending last season with the Bills, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on his podcast that the 30-year-old pass rusher is more likely to retire than return.

“It is more likely than not that Joey Bosa has played his last NFL down,” Schefter said.

The one scenario that could still change things, Schefter suggested, would be a chance for Joey to join his younger brother, Nick Bosa, with the 49ers.

But even that possibility appears unlikely.

Joey Bosa. Getty Images

Schefter said that if San Francisco wanted to unite the Bosa brothers — or if Joey was fully committed to playing again — it probably would have gained traction by now.

“Could a situation like the 49ers come along that entices him enough to come out and play again? Yeah, absolutely,” Schefter said.

Still, he added: “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.”

Bosa entered the NFL as one of the league’s most promising defensive prospects after being selected third overall by the Chargers in the 2016 NFL Draft.

He became one of the Chargers’ top pass rushers, but injuries have taken a toll in recent years.

Joey Bosa AP

Bosa recorded 10.5 sacks in 2021, but has not topped 6.5 in a season since.

He played 15 games for Buffalo in 2025 and finished with five sacks.

Nick Bosa, 28, hinted last month that his brother was not spending much time thinking about football, saying Joey had been playing golf instead.

Both Bosa brothers played at Ohio State and are sons of former NFL defensive end John Bosa.

Nick is expected to be ready for 49ers training camp after knee surgery.