The 12th Annual NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday night announced the latest batch of legacy-defining winners. We saw 16 individuals collect their awards, plus the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class announced. Among the current players who have exhibited true excellence on the field, San Francisco 49ers edge defender Nick Bosa heartily earned the 2022-23 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Bosa was the expected winner of the award as he became the heavy betting favorite in the waning weeks of the regular season. Let’s dive into how he clinched the award over Dallas pass rusher Micah Parsons and Kansas City Chiefs tackle Chris Jones.
Nick Bosa Wins 2022-2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
The 25-year-old Bosa completed his most impressive season yet in his fourth year, leading the NFL with 18.5 sacks in 16 games. He was named to his first first-team All-Pro team and third Pro Bowl nomination, putting him on a warpath to start his career.
Bosa had previously won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, missed the 2020 season with a torn ACL, then returned to the field and notched 15.5 sacks in 2021.
His ability to wreak havoc on offenses served as the key lynchpin to the NFL’s best overall defense. The 49ers allowed the fewest points in the NFL, averaging just over 16 points per game. Bosa was one of three first-team All-Pro defenders on the unit, alongside linebacker Fred Warner and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
MORE: 2023 NFL Honors Results — List of 2022-2023 NFL Awards Winners
Bosa finished 2022-23 first in QB pressures (59), second in tackles for loss (19), and 35th in run stuffs (seven). Setting the franchise’s second-most sacks is an especially impressive mark considering the list of high-end talent that San Francisco has developed. Best of all, Bosa was consistently a force, earning at least one sack in 13 games.
His best performance came against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13, sacking quarterback Tua Tagovailoa three times. It was one of five games he finished with multiple sacks.
Bosa’s special performances were recognized throughout the season as he earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice and NFL Player of the Month for November.
The massive season bodes well for Bosa’s bank account as he’s again extension-eligible this offseason. He’s set to play on his fifth-year option if the two sides can’t agree to a deal. He’ll be a bargain at only $17.859 million, which is fully guaranteed.
The 49ers could get creative on a new contract for Bosa if they want to open cap space that allows them to go shopping in free agency or in the trade market. Giving him a long-term deal with a low cap hit in 2023-24 opens possibilities to potentially go big game hunting. Considering the time is now for this team to win, that’s not a bad route.
Bosa will be playing under his third different defensive coordinator since being drafted as the 49ers lost DeMeco Ryans to the Houston Texans’ head coaching job. Steve Wilks quickly accepted his role and will oversee this talented unit. I’d expect Bosa to continue being the main star of the unit for years to come.