Nick Bosa says trust in the 49ers got him through lengthy contract talks

After an intense last month of negotiations, the San Francisco 49ers and Nick Bosa finally came to an agreement on a five-year contract extension this week, ending a 44-day holdout.

But it didn’t come easy, with talks going all the way up to the Wednesday before Week 1’s matchup. And while Bosa knew the deal would get done, he admits it was stressful at times this summer.

“There’s certain points throughout it that are more stressful than others,” Bosa told the media Friday. “But I trust the team around me and I know that they have my best interest in mind. And I trusted the 49ers organization and all of them to work well with my guys. I had trust all along, but it definitely was stressful.”

Just in the Nick of time 🙌 pic.twitter.com/IYbATudS8r

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 8, 2023

Bosa also shared that even he thought about the possibility of skipping Week 1 of the 2023 season, watching the time tick away with no new deal.

Obviously, he wanted to play, especially with San Francisco’s current championship window closing fast. But the defensive end stayed true to his agent, Brian Aynault of WME Sports, allowing him to work with the 49ers on this complicated extension.

“I kind of deferred to Brian Aynault. He’s the best there is. I trust him to tell me when it’s time. He’s as good as it gets. It was fun to watch him do his job,” Bosa said.

And in the end, it paid off, literally, with both sides now signing on for an additional five years.

“The closer it got, the more it seemed a possibility,” Bosa said about missing the first regular season game. “I’m very appreciative of this organization for believing in me, and the York family for believing in me, and I want to thank them, and [general manager] John Lynch and [head coach] Kyle Shanahan.”

Now back in Santa Clara, Nick Bosa is fired up to be with the 49ers again, getting praise from everyone on the team upon his arrival.

“It was unbelievable. I’d been waiting for that moment…I know they had my back,” Bosa said.

But what does that mean for his availability this weekend?

“I’d be up for normal workload for sure.” 😈

Nick Bosa on his realistic expectations for Sunday pic.twitter.com/10Be6PrXGK

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) September 8, 2023

After arriving in the Bay Area Wednesday night, the star pass rusher had limited time to prep for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. But that shouldn’t matter, staying in peak physical condition at his home in Florida.

“I’m confident,” Bosa stated about playing in Week 1. “I’m not sure what Kyle’s plan is, but I would be up for [a] normal workload, for sure.”

And after two days of practice, Shanahan and the coaching staff feel the same way.

“He looked exactly how we were expecting him to look,” Shanahan said Friday. “Looks in real good shape. Looks ready to go. We got an idea how we’re going to use him and I think he’ll do all right.”

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