Two-time Super Bowl champion linebacker Kyle Van Noy isn’t shy about speaking his mind regarding his free agency. While he holds no grudges over missed opportunities, he knows exactly where he wants to be: the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco’s pass-rush situation has been a talking point, and for good reason after last year’s lack of sack production (only 20 sacks). The 49ers have taken steps to address it, including trading for Osa Odighizuwa and drafting Romello Height in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, could they look to add a veteran pass rusher to provide depth behind Nick Bosa?
Kyle Van Noy Targets the San Francisco 49ers in Free Agency
Recently appearing on the “Up & Adams Show,” Van Noy shared his thoughts on the missed opportunity to go to Seattle as the Seahawks are set to sign Dante Fowler.
Van Noy explained how the whole situation played out. He admitted that Seattle did hit him up, but their vision couldn’t align. He noted, “I knew the DC loved Fowler. He was down in Dallas, so that was an option. It looks like that option’s off the table now.”
Van Noy gave Fowler his flowers and quickly shared the nugget: “I want to throw out a team that a lot of people may not know.”
He further added, “I’d really like to play with my little brother Fred Warner with the Niners. I think they’ve got something cooking over there. I know they love Joey Bosa because of Nick and all that. I get that. But I would love to play with my little brother. That’s my guy. I think they’ve got something cooking over there.”
Adams followed up with the obvious question, looking for more details, but Van Noy laughed it off. “I’m not going to go into those details, but I would love to play with Frederico a little bit,” he said.
Van Noy recorded 20 tackles, two sacks, and an interception for the Ravens last season. He totaled 21.5 sacks across his first two years with the AFC North team. PFSN’s NFL Edge Impact rankings placed him No. 53 overall last season with a 74.1 impact score (Grade: C).
So that’s what the veteran depth behind Bosa could look like if the 49ers choose to hedge their bets. Now, the path for Van Noy may seem uncertain with Joey Bosa’s name continuing to surface in speculation, but that fit doesn’t appear likely.
While the idea of the Bosa brothers playing together is intriguing, the former Los Angeles Chargers star may simply be too expensive right now. NBC Sports Bay Area insider Matt Maiocco addressed that possibility when responding to fan questions.
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“As long as Joey Bosa remains unsigned, he’s still an option,” Maiocco said. “Some of the top available players include Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa, and Michael Danna… Still, even with those names out there, it’s not something to expect. While they are options, it doesn’t seem likely the team would be willing to pay Joey Bosa the kind of money he’s looking for.”
Not a greenlight that Van Noy would have hoped for, but there’s hope. And for a short-term, one year contract, it can hardly go wrong with the experience he brings.
