Why Nick Bosa earned PFWA Rookie of the Year honors
Defensive end Nick Bosa’s rise to stardom wasn’t a surprise inside the 49ers facility.
Once he No. 2 pick in the draft started participating in padded practices during training camp, when he went blow for blow with six-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley, it was clear Bosa had the goods to be a transformational figure for San Francisco’s defense that struggled since the team last made the playoffs after the 2013 season.
Then Bosa went down with a right high ankle sprain early in training camp and the same questions that accompanied him throughout the draft process remained prevalent as he entered his first NFL season.
Four months later, those questions appear answered.
On the heels of recording two sacks in his playoff debut, a dominant defensive performance against the Minnesota Vikings, the former Ohio State Buckeye this week was named the Rookie of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America. He also earned Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie team honors.
Bosa was the best player on the field last week as the 49ers held Minnesota to just seven first downs and 147 yards of offense, the fewest in a postseason game in franchise history.
“It’s just kind of expected now,” Staley said of Bosa’s dominance. “I think at first it was kind of shocking about how quickly he adapted to the NFL and how he was able to make a lot of talented tackles look silly, myself included. But now it’s just what he is and it’s expected. It’s who he’s been his whole life. I don’t think he got ‘turned up’ for a playoff game. It’s just what he does. He goes out there and dominates. So expect him to do the same next week.”
Bosa finished his rookie campaign with 9.0 sacks, third among first-year players, and first with 25 quarterback hits. His 16 tackles for loss were tied for fifth among all defenders.
His two sacks of Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins may have served as the highlight of his season with the NFC title game upcoming Sunday against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
“Obviously making the plays is good. But, I mean, I try and bring the same effort, same technique, same everything every week,” Bosa said after the game. “I got a couple sacks. That always helps.”
Bosa’s 9.0 sacks are the fourth most of any 49ers rookie in team history behind Aldon Smith (14.0, 20110), Charles Haley (12.0, 1986) and Dana Stubblefield (10.5, 1993). Bosa’s 16 tackles for a loss were the most and his 25 quarterback hits ranked second behind Smith.
“He played pretty good all year. I don’t know how many sacks he got today, but he’s been pressuring the quarterback all year,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan after the game. “He’s been a stud. He’s been awesome on the field, off the field. Extremely happy to have him on our team.”
Bosa wasn’t San Francisco’s only rookie honored by the PFWA. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw was also named to the All-Rookie team for his work filling in for Kwon Alexander during the second half of the season.
Greenlaw made one of the biggest defensive plays of the season when he stopped Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister inches short of the goal line on a fourth down in the final moments of the pivotal Week 17 victory in Seattle. It marked the 49ers’ first win at CenturyLink Field since 2011, gave the 49ers the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the conference, which meant a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Receiver Deebo Samuel did not make the All-Rookie team despite having one of the most productive seasons for a rookie receiver in team history. Samuel finished with 961 yards from scrimmage, second among rookies, and became a key weapon in the 49ers offense as the season wore on. Only Titans rookie A.J. Brown (1,111) had more yards from scrimmage among rookie receivers.
Brown and Washington’s Terry McLaurin, who had 919 receiving yards to Samuel’s 802, were the two receivers named to the All-Rookie team.
The PFWA’s honor is the NFL’s official rookie of the year award. That will be named at the NFL honors ceremony the night before the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 at the annual NFL Honors award show.
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. He led all first-year players with 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns.
This story was originally published January 14, 2020 at 4:33 PM.