The Los Angeles Chargers announced Wednesday night that they have released five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Joey Bosa.
Bosa, 29, has played his entire nine-season career with the Chargers after they selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He was the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016 after tallying 10.5 sacks and made his first Pro Bowl in his second season.
He was a Pro Bowler for the fifth time in 2024 despite posting a career low in sacks (five) for a season in which he played at least six games.
Bosa was scheduled to play on the second season of a two-year, $40.36 million contract that was a restructure of a five-year, $135 million contract extension that he signed in 2020. He was due a $12.36 million roster bonus on March 12. By releasing Bosa, the Chargers save $25.36 million against the 2025 salary cap.
Injuries limited Bosa to a total of 14 games combined in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and he hasn’t a posted double-digit sack tally since recording 10.5 in 2021. But he remains a force when healthy and could be a coveted option for a team willing to take on his health risks and seeking to upgrade its pass rush.
The release of Bosa marks the end of a Chargers era. Bosa was drafted by the Chargers when they still resided in San Diego and leaves the team with 72 career sacks, the second most in franchise history behind Leslie O’Neal (105.5).
