- Nick Bosa has signed a historic five-year, $170 million contract extension with the 49ers, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
- Bosa’s impressive stats and team-defense contributions justified this record-breaking contract.
- His return to the field for the 49ers marks the end of a prolonged holdout.
San Francisco’s defensive juggernaut, Nick Bosa, has finally put pen to paper on a record-breaking contract extension. After a prolonged holdout, Bosa, the reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has agreed to a five-year, $170 million deal with the 49ers.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport revealed the terms, noting that an impressive $122.5 million of the contract is guaranteed, and all fines incurred during Bosa’s holdout have been waived.
This landmark contract establishes Bosa as the highest-paid defensive player in the history of the NFL, with an average annual salary of $34 million, surpassing Aaron Donald’s previous record with the Rams at $31.7 million.
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Bosa’s holdout stretched through training camp and the preseason as he patiently awaited an extension following his stellar 2022 season. During this time, he diligently trained independently to protect his health. However, negotiations took longer than anticipated, surprising his coach, Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan had initially expected Bosa to rejoin the team by the end of the preseason. Still, it wasn’t until a few days before San Francisco’s regular-season opener against the Steelers that the two parties reached an agreement.
As the 49ers prepare for their Week 1 clash, Shanahan remains cautious about Bosa’s playing time, emphasizing that it will depend on the upcoming practices. He humorously stated that Bosa must be “out of shape” to miss the opener.
Considering Bosa’s exceptional performance over the past two seasons, this record-breaking contract appears well worth it. Since his return from an ACL tear in 2020, Bosa has been a dominant force on the field, amassing 34 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles. In 2022, he earned his first All-Pro selection and claimed the Defensive Player of the Year title, setting the stage for a promising future.
San Francisco’s decision to secure Bosa’s long-term commitment was never in doubt. The 49ers have leaned heavily on their defense during their successful tenure under Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, with Bosa as their most potent defensive weapon. The only lingering question was when they would finalize the deal.
Now, with the contract inked, all eyes turn to Bosa as he readies himself to make his mark again on the gridiron for the 49ers in the coming weeks.
