History of Joey Bosa in Timeline

Joey Bosa is an American football defensive end currently playing for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. He played college football at Ohio State and was drafted third overall by the San Diego Chargers in 2016, earning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Bosa comes from a football family; he is the son of former NFL player John Bosa and the older brother of Nick Bosa, who also plays in the NFL.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1987: John Bosa's NFL Career

Joey Bosa's father, John Bosa, played in the NFL from 1987 to 1989.

1989: John Bosa's NFL Career

Joey Bosa's father, John Bosa, played in the NFL from 1987 to 1989.

July 11, 1995: Joey Bosa's Birth

Joey Bosa was born on July 11, 1995. He is the son of former NFL player John Bosa and the older brother of Nick Bosa.

April 2012: Committed to Ohio State

In April 2012, Joey Bosa committed to play college football at Ohio State University.

2013: Freshman All-American

In 2013, Joey Bosa was named a first-team Freshman All-American and selected to the Freshman All-Big Ten first-team.

2014: Unanimous All-American

In 2014, Joey Bosa was named a Unanimous All-American and Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year after recording 13.5 sacks on 55 tackles.

2014: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

In 2014, his sophomore year, Joey Bosa was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Lineman of the Year, First-team All-American, and All-Big Ten, as well as a Lombardi Award finalist.

July 30, 2015: Suspension Announcement

On July 30, 2015, it was announced that Joey Bosa would be suspended from the first game of the 2015 season along with three other Ohio State football players for undisclosed reasons.

December 31, 2015: Declared for 2016 NFL Draft

On December 31, 2015, Joey Bosa announced his intentions to enter the 2016 NFL draft.

January 1, 2016: Ejection from Fiesta Bowl

On January 1, 2016, during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, Joey Bosa was ejected in the first quarter for a targeting penalty after a hit on quarterback DeShone Kizer.

March 2016: NFL Combine Invitation

In March 2016, Joey Bosa was projected to be a top 10 pick in the 2016 NFL draft and received an invitation to the NFL combine, where he met with 13 NFL teams.

2016: Drafted by San Diego Chargers

In 2016, Joey Bosa was selected in the first round with the third overall selection by the San Diego Chargers.

December 19, 2017: First Pro Bowl Selection

On December 19, 2017, Joey Bosa was named to his first Pro Bowl.

2017: NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

In 2017, after being limited to 12 games due to injury, Joey Bosa finished his rookie year with 41 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and a forced fumble, earning him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team.

2018: Solid Second Season

In 2018, Joey Bosa had a solid second season totaling 70 tackles and 12.5 sacks, ranking seventh in the NFL. He and Melvin Ingram formed one of the best pass rushing duos in the league.

2018: Foot Injury and Playoff Debut

In 2018, Joey Bosa suffered a foot injury, sidelining him until Week 11. He recorded 5.5 sacks in seven games and made his playoff debut against the Ravens.

April 12, 2019: Jersey Number Change

On April 12, 2019, Joey Bosa switched his jersey number from 99 to 97, the same number he wore during his tenure with Ohio State.

April 23, 2019: Fifth-Year Option Picked Up

On April 23, 2019, the Chargers picked up the fifth-year option on Joey Bosa's contract.

2019: Ranked 56th in NFL Top 100

In 2019, Joey Bosa was ranked 56th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

2019: Nick Bosa Drafted

In 2019, Joey Bosa's brother, Nick Bosa, also played defensive end at Ohio State, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the second overall pick.

July 28, 2020: Contract Extension with Chargers

On July 28, 2020, Joey Bosa signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension with the Chargers, becoming the highest-paid defensive player in the league.

2020: Ranked 34th in NFL Top 100

In 2020, Joey Bosa was ranked 34th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list after accumulating 11.5 sacks and 67 tackles in total for the 2019 season and being named to the Pro Bowl.

October 17, 2021: Season Best for Solo Tackles

Joey Bosa's best single game for solo tackles in the 2021 season was October 17, 2021, during the Chargers loss to the Ravens. Bosa made 5 solo tackles in that game.

2021: Ranked 32nd in NFL Top 100

In 2021, Joey Bosa was ranked 32nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list and also earned his third Pro Bowl nomination.

September 28, 2022: Placed on Injured Reserve

On September 28, 2022, Joey Bosa was placed on injured reserve due to a groin injury that required surgery.

December 29, 2022: Designated to Return From Injured Reserve

On December 29, 2022, Joey Bosa was designated to return from injured reserve.

2022: Fourth Pro Bowl Trip

In 2022, Joey Bosa earned his fourth trip to the Pro Bowl but did not play due to an undisclosed injury. He was ranked 30th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022 list.

2023: 2023 Season Performance

In the 2023 season, Joey Bosa appeared in nine games, starting five, and finished with 6.5 sacks, one pass defended, and one forced fumble.

2024: 2024 Season Performance

In the 2024 season, Joey Bosa appeared in 14 games and started nine, finishing with five sacks and two forced fumbles. He also recorded a sack in the Wild Card Round loss to the Texans.

March 5, 2025: Release from the Chargers

On March 5, 2025, Joey Bosa was released by the Chargers. At the time of his release, he was one of the last remaining players from the San Diego era.