The Nick Bosa holdout is over.
On Wednesday afternoon, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Bosa agreed to a five-year, $170 million contract with $122.5 million guaranteed. The average annual value of $34 million makes Bosa the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, eclipsing Aaron Donald’s $31.7 million.
Bosa’s holdout dragged on for six weeks before the deal was announced on Wednesday. The deal happened about an hour before the 49ers were set to practice to get set for Sunday’s season opener at Pittsburgh.
Coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters minutes after the news broke and confirmed the deal, saying that Bosa was trying to get to the facility.
"We kinda had an idea it was gonna be like this," Shanahan said. "I thought it would come to fruition last week sometime, but it didn't. Made me nervous, made me kinda move on with it because I had to. But we all knew Nick was gonna get rewarded like he did. ... We love Nick and he loves being here. He's definitely earned this."
According to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, the deal also includes a $50 million signing bonus -- a league record for a defensive player.
The 49ers were getting ready for practice in the locker room when linebacker Fred Warner came through yelling about the news.
"Just really happy," Warner said. "Ecstatic, actually. You shoulda seen me screaming earlier."
While Bosa's teammates, coaches and the 49ers front office were playing it cool about the holdout dragging beyond training camp, they admitted it was hanging over the locker room heading into Week 1.
"I'd be lying to say it wasn't, because he's such a huge contributor to the defense and how we play," Williams said. "It's not like anybody else going down is Defensive Player of the Year. You miss people like that. I know it's a next-man-up league, but a lot of that goes out the window when you're talking about a player like that."
The 49ers were preparing to go in to Week 1 with Drake Jackson and Clelin Ferrell as starting defensive ends, but they'll add last year's NFL sack leader, as Bosa piled up 18.5 last season before winning DPOY. Javon Hargrave, who was signed this offseason as prized interior defensive lineman, said he's eager to get in the trenches with Bosa.
"It's gonna be very exciting," Hargrave said. "It's gonna help everybody around us to have one of our best players back. We just ready to get to work now."
