49ers, Nick Bosa agree on record 5-year $170 million extension
The San Francisco 49ers have come to an agreement on a contract extension with holdout defensive end Nick Bosa that would reportedly make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter first reported on the deal in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday afternoon. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the deal Wednesday and said he was informed about it just minutes before a scheduled afternoon press conference.
The deal, which reportedly includes $122.5 million in guaranteed money, comes just four days before the 49ers' season-opener against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. The average annual value (AAV) of $34 million would surpass that of Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald which carries an AAV of $31.66 million.
In 16 games played last season, Bosa recorded 51 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, and a league-leading 18.5 sacks. He also led the league in QB hits with 48, and tied for second in tackles for loss with 19, and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year.
As the negotiations for the contract extension dragged on and Bosa continued to hold out past the preseason, Shanahan said the team was preparing to play Sunday without him, expressing relief at the 11th-hour deal.
"Once [the holdout] kind of went through the weekend, I just kind of got in my mind that we weren't playing with him, so, because if I would have gone back and forth I would have been miserable," he said. "So I just decided we weren't. I think our team was ready to not, that was our mindset this way, and it was a hell of a bonus to just get told that coming in here."
As for Bosa's availability in Week 1, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he doesn't how many snaps Bosa could take but indicates he expects him to play.
"I know he'll come in shape," Shanahan said. "I know he'll be good. It'd be great if he could get into something today. I don't know when he is going to get here or where he is flying from, but we'll be smart with it. And that'll be based over these next two and a half practices."
The 49ers selected Bosa second overall in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, where he earned First-team All-Big Ten honors and was named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. With the 49ers, Bosa was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and in four NFL seasons, he has made three Pro Bowls and was named a First Team All-Pro for the first time last season along with his DPOY honors.
Shanahan said despite missing all of training camp and the preseason games, he expects number 97 to be in uniform Sunday in Pittsburgh.
"I mean, there is question because we haven't seen him, but I think you guys know how I'm talking," said Shanahan. "Like he'd have to have a beer belly and be out of shape or something which that's not in Bosa's DNA."
