Joey Bosa predicted to make NFL comeback with brother Nick Bosa’s San Francisco 49ers as retirement rumors intensify

Joey Bosa retirement rumors have been circulating throughout the 2026 offseason. They may have halted for a second into the season.But with six games and no Nick Bosa in the San Francisco 49ers for four of those - the rumors are back in action. Only this time, there’s a spice of an NFL comeback. With midseason urgency.Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay has identified Joey Bosa as a potential addition for San Francisco. The 49ers are navigating defensive-line injury concerns; the veteran edge rusher could become an ideal solution for a team looking to strengthen its pass rush during the 2026 NFL season.Joey Bosa’s reunion with Nick Bosa in San Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers need to generate more consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The team has recorded 15 sacks in six games - this is a league-average mark that screams improvement.Nick Bosa’s Week 2 calf injury has severely affected the franchise’s ability to attack quarterbacks from the edge. Signing Nick Bosa’s older brother, Joey Bosa, could help address that weakness. Not just that, but also pursue a forever dream of championship success.The 49ers’ possibility of signing Joey carries more than just professional significance. It also carries a personal touch: the brothers haven’t played together since their high school days. That was in 2012. Their mother, Cheryl Bosa, really hopes to see Joey in a San Francisco 49ers jersey, just like her other son, Nick.Joey is a former Los Angeles Chargers edge defender who represented the Buffalo Bills in 2025. He recorded 5.0 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 16 quarterback hits, and 9 tackles for loss in 15 games during the 2025 season.He had signed a one-year, $12M contract with the Bills in March 2025. There was no renewal. He didn’t consider a comeback in the 2026 offseason.Nick said that Joey’s more into golf than the NFL. But there was no retirement news either. This leaves the NFL comeback speculation alive and well and doing cyberspace rounds.He was a capable threat in Buffalo last season, and his extensive experience and pass-rushing ability could make him a useful rotational defender if he ever returns to a team that also features his younger brother, Nick.Joey Bosa retirement rumors continue despite NFL interestDespite the San Francisco 49ers speculation, Joey Bosa’s future remains uncertain. According to Adam Schefter’s June 2026 report, the veteran may have likely played his final NFL game. However, if there was an attractive opportunity, like the San Francisco 49ers, this could persuade him to return.Four months later, that opportunity arose. Isn’t now the best time to return? Also, the big games may be starting soon. He could be that major boost for the 49ers - when they truly need it the most.Across 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills, he recorded 77 sacks and 22 forced fumbles in 122 games.If he could win a Super Bowl alongside his younger brother Nick Bosa, wouldn’t that be the best closing chapter to his NFL career? We can only hope for that to happen. Or maybe he has retired.Joey Bosa free agency rumorsCategoryDetailsPlayer Joey BosaCurrent TeamNone. His contract with the Buffalo Bills expired at the end of the 2025 NFL season.Linked TeamsDallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore RavensContract StatusUFA [unrestricted free agent]Spotrac Calculated Market ValueTwo-year, $27M contract with $13M average annual incomeFree Agency Signing Likelihood in MidseasonModerateTotal Career Earnings$156M over 10 long NFL seasons, earned from two different teams [Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills].Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.