SAN DIEGO -- John Bosa takes care of all of the periphery issues around his son -- the selection of agents, workout spots and financial advisers -- letting Joey Bosa focus on football.
Having his father eliminate the noise has been a successful formula for Joey Bosa, the first-round selection by the San Diego Chargers in this year’s draft.
“He’s just really been there every step of the way for me,” Bosa said about his father. “He’s been there making sure I’m keeping my head on straight and knowing what’s important, which is football and my family.
“Just being grateful and thankful every single day for the position I’m in and the opportunity I get -- he and my mom [Cheryl] have both been great throughout this process.”
But you couldn’t blame John Bosa for wanting to be involved in the teaching of football fundamentals for his son. He’s been down this road before, selected No. 16 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1987 draft.
Like his son, John Bosa was a defensive end. But his pro career was short-lived -- cut short when he shredded his knee in a game against the Chargers in 1988. John Bosa tore up the other knee a year later and his NFL playing days were over.
John Bosa played in three NFL seasons, finishing with seven sacks. So he understands some of the expectations facing his son as a first-round pick entering the NFL. Joey Bosa’s uncle, Eric Kumerow, also was a first-round pick and defensive lineman for the Dolphins, taken No. 16 overall in 1988.
“I think mentally he has my same kind of grind mentality and hard-working mentality, but physically and athletically he was better at 18 than I ever was, honestly,” John Bosa said.
“I was 280 and played in a 3-4 defense in a very different time. But physically and athletically that kid at 18 has got skills that I never had. But that’s all part of coaching and the evolution of playing defensive end.”
With the heightened attention NFL prospects face during the pre-draft process, John Bosa says his son has dealt with much more scrutiny than he did almost 30 years ago.
John Bosa said he tried to hold off letting his son play football, but once Joey got on the football field he was a natural. The only question his son had to answer was if he was willing to put in the work required to develop into an elite prospect, and Joey Bosa showed the dedication and willingness to attend 6 a.m. workouts and cancel family vacation while attending St. Thomas Aquinas High School in South Florida.
Joey’s younger brother, Nick Bosa, also developed into an elite college prospect, and is a freshman defensive end entering Ohio State this fall.
“You can teach a lot of technique, and a lot of guys have strength,” John Bosa said. “But if you just don’t have that knack and nose for the ball, those are instincts that can’t be taught. Both my sons have that. Joey just has that.
“So if you combine his skills and God-given ability, along with the hard work and technique -- he’s just a football player. He can kind of feel where the ball is going, and that’s something that’s very hard to teach.”
Some of the talk leading up to the draft centered on what position Bosa would play at the next level. A two-time All-American who finished with 26 career sacks, Bosa was a very productive player at Ohio State. However, he did not put up the type of combine numbers expected from an elite edge rusher.
Other draft observers compared him to J.J. Watt. Bosa didn’t help damper those comparisons with the selection of jersey No. 99 for the Chargers. However, John Bosa understands that his son has a long way to go.
“I’m not really worried about his measurables,” John Bosa said. “If you watch the film, he beats guys time and time again around the edge at 275 pounds. So he looks pretty elite to me. And then if you combine that he will be an all-around player, an every-down guy with the ability to move him around. I think he’s an elite guy. And I think the Chargers think he is. You just have to be careful with the comparisons.
“He’s going to have to forge his own identity. Anybody comparing him to J.J. Watt, I don’t think that’s fair. J.J. Watt is a three-time defensive player of the year. He’s where Joey wants to be. And Joey has a lot of work to do, and will strive to be there. But Joey’s his own player. And he’ll forge his own path.”
Like he’s done throughout his football career, Joey Bosa says he’s ready to put in the work.
“Nothing is ever given to you,” Bosa said. “That’s definitely something my dad has taught me throughout this whole process. I know coming in here, I’m a rookie and nothing is going to be handed to me. So I’m going to have to keep the same work ethic that got me here in the first place.”