49ers' Nick Bosa: 'I'm Feeling as Good as I've Felt' Following NFL Super Bowl Run

After a long season that started with a contract holdout and ended with a disappointing loss in the Super Bowl, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is in a much better spot going into the 2024 campaign.

Bosa told reporters during 49ers' organized team activities he's "feeling as good as I've felt" in a long time:

"I'm taking it a little a little slower, but everything's great. I'm feeling as good as I've felt. I'm excited to actually get some practice in. Last year was kind of tough getting thrown in week one after a walkthrough, so that was another reason I'm excited to be here is just to get practicing a little bit. In-season practice is one thing, but actually being able to work your stuff and not have a game coming up is good."

Bosa missed all of training camp and preseason last year while holding out to get a long-term deal. His five-year, $170 million deal was agreed to on Sept. 6, four days before the 49ers' season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

San Francisco didn't give Bosa a full workload in Week 1, limiting him to 56 percent of the defensive snaps. He had 12 quarterback hits in three playoff games and two sacks in the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions.

Bosa started all 17 games in the regular season, but his 10.5 sacks were his fewest in a full season since his rookie year in 2019 (nine). This doesn't include 2020 when he only played two games due to a torn ACL.

When Bosa went through a normal offseason routine two years ago, he had the best season of his career. The 26-year-old led the NFL with 18.5 sacks en route to winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

The 49ers will be counting on Bosa returning to that level in 2024. Arik Armstead, Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell and Randy Gregory are no longer on the team.

Maliek Collins, Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens are among the players brought in to revamp the defensive line under new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen.

A recharged Bosa is good news for a 49ers team that is going to enter another season with championship aspirations. They came close to reaching the top of the mountain last season, losing 25-22 in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58.