MIAMI — Nick Bosa lurked in the shadows of Super Bowl Opening Night, on the other side of the 49ers’ stage from the reporters swarming Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan.
Whatever the question, Bosa amicably handled it in humble fashion, a successful entry into a Super Bowl week that needs to end with him harassing Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Before delving deeper into that critical matchup, Monday marked time for shallow questions from, ahem, media. The highlights:
— Asked to give a public-service message about the coronavirus: “To all my Chinese friends out there, wash your hands and stay clean because there is a virus going around. Just hang in there. And enjoy the Super Bowl.”
#49ers Nick Bosa asked to give a public-service message about the #coronoavirus pic.twitter.com/hZHcQtJK7d
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 28, 2020
— He repeatedly got asked about his local roots (North Miami and Fort Lauderdale), and one reporter told him she was his babysitter when he’d visit his dad’s gym. Bosa didn’t remember her but appreciated the local love from so many friends and family.
— On if he’s the best player in the league: “Next question. I don’t know how to answer that without sounding arrogant. So it’s a pass.”
— On if his family shared with him stories of his late great-grandfather Tony Accardo, a reputed Chicago mobster: “Yes. Those are for me.”
— A female reporter dressed in a sailor outfit asked him to play the “Let’s Go Fishin’ ” board game, which he agonized through as being “tough.” He then rewarded her with a selfie.
#49ers Nick Bosa’s toughest task this Super Bowl might not be to sack #Chiefs Patrick Mahomes but rather try playing Let’s Go Fishin’ board game, as a sailor “reporter” asked him to do before they took a selfie pic.twitter.com/uNGfKJ5Vmp
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 28, 2020
Yes, he also got asked about social-media posts, which were a red flag along with durability concerns when Bosa landed on the 49ers with the draft’s No. 2 overall pick.
Since then, life’s been grand for a defensive end who’s played every game and will be vital in Sunday’s Super Bowl LIV.
“I’m not huge into the media side of things,” Bosa said. “I just want to get my workouts in, get my practice in and play this game.”
OK, a couple more hot topics:
— On not having a sibling rivalry with his older brother, Joey, who plays on the Los Angeles Chargers. “I’m definitely not going to rub it in his face,” Bosa said of potentially being first to a Super Bowl win.
— On Jimmy Garoppolo: “He has had those signature games where he should have had people’s respect. Hopefully winning a Super Bowl takes care of that.”
— On Garoppolo’s 2018 summer date with adult-films star: “I came in as a rookie and I was kind of scared to ask him about it, but once we got to know each other a little better, I asked him about it and it was pretty funny. No details, though.”
Mahomes’ impressions from watching Bosa on film amount to, well, déjà vu. Twice a year, Mahomes faces Joey Bosa, Nick’s older brother who plays on the Los Angeles Chargers (and also wears No. 97).
“He’s a monster. I get to play his brother two times a year and he’s a monster, as well,” Mahomes said. “They do a lot of the same things as far as the way they’re able to rush the quarterback. A big thing that gets undervalued is the way they’re able to stop the run game.
“He’s one of those complete defensive ends that can rush the quarterback and stop the run game and be in on every single play.”
Bosa said of the advice his brother gave him on Mahomes: “He definitely told me you can’t rush as a single rusher, you have to rush as a unit, stay in your lanes and not let him get out of the pocket.”
Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher, the 2013 draft’s No. 1 overall pick, knows that Bosa is no raw rookie.
“It’s amazing what he’s doing as a rookie. He’s playing like a veteran and it’s impressive,” Fisher said. “So many guys come into this league and go through a transition period. It’s like he almost skipped that.
“He’s playing very well, and across the whole line, they’re just very talented players and we’re looking forward to it as an offensive line. It’s going to be a great matchup on Sunday.”
Typically on the other end of the 49ers’ line is Dee Ford, Mahomes’ former Chiefs teammate and former practice-field tormentor.
“When I was on the (scout) squad, he would tap me every other play,” Mahomes said of Ford. “He’s a great football player and it will be a great challenge for us.”
Ford’s advice to Bosa: “Be him. Bosa’s unblockable. Be him, at the end of the day.”
Bosa indeed was himself Monday night. Welcome to the Super Bowl, and welcome back to South Florida. Wash those hands.
