Nick Bolton

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Nick Bolton
Bolton with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021
No. 32 – Kansas City Chiefs
PositionLinebacker
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2000-03-10) March 10, 2000
Frisco, Texas, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight237 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High schoolLone Star (Frisco)
CollegeMissouri (2018–2020)
NFL draft2021: 2nd round, 58th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles612
Sacks6
Forced fumbles3
Fumble recoveries3
Interceptions5
Pass deflections21
Defensive touchdowns1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Nicholas Bolton (born March 10, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers, and was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. Bolton has won two Super Bowl titles, LVII and LVIII, having been a starter in the 2022 and 2023 Chiefs teams. He also scored a defensive touchdown from a fumble recovery in the first win.

Early life

Bolton attended Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas.[1] He had 130 tackles and five interceptions as a senior and 111 tackles and one interception his junior season.[2] He committed to the University of Missouri to play college football.[3][4]

College career

As a true freshman at Missouri in 2018, he played in all 13 games recording 22 tackles and one sack. As a sophomore in 2019, he became a starter.[5][6][7] He had two interceptions, including one for a touchdown, in a game against West Virginia in the 2019 season.[8] He was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) after finishing with 103 tackles, two interceptions and one sack.[9] During a COVID-19 scheduled ten game season in 2020, Bolton finished with 95 tackles and two sacks to close out his junior year.[10] He was once again named first-team All-SEC. In addition, he received Associated Press Second-team All-American honors.[11]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 11+1⁄8 in
(1.81 m)		237 lb
(108 kg)		31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m)		10+3⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		6 ft 4+1⁄4 in
(1.94 m)		4.60 s1.71 s2.62 s4.50 s7.40 s32.0 in
(0.81 m)		9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		24 reps
All values from Pro Day[12][13]

Bolton was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (58th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. The Chiefs used a 2nd round selection they previously acquired along with Orlando Brown Jr. in a trade that sent the 31st overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft (Odafe Oweh) to the Baltimore Ravens.[14] On May 13, 2021, Bolton officially signed with the Chiefs on a $5.84 million deal.[15] Bolton was put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on December 21.[16] He was activated on December 25.[17] In Week 18, against the Denver Broncos, he recorded his first NFL touchdown on an 86-yard fumble return in the 28–24 victory.[18] As a rookie, he appeared in 16 games and started 12. He finished with 112 total tackles and three passes defended.[19] He was named to the 2021 PFWA All-Rookie Team.[20]

During the 2022 season, Bolton recorded two sacks, 180 total tackles (108 solo), two interceptions, three passes defended, and one forced fumble.[21] He finished second in the NFL in combined and solo tackles in the 2022 season,[22] helping the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVII.

Bolton then played a key role in their 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles,[23] leading both teams with nine total tackles, and returning a fumble by Jalen Hurts 36 yards for a touchdown.[24]

During the 2023 season, Bolton recorded 60 total tackles, one interception, and three passes defended.[25] The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LVIII where they defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 25–22, to repeat as Super Bowl champions.[26] Bolton led both teams with 13 total tackles.[27]

During Week 13 of the 2024 season against the Las Vegas Raiders, Bolton recorded 11 tackles and recovered a fumble from Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell with 14 seconds left in the game. This would, in essence, end the game and send the Chiefs to the playoffs, marking their 10th straight appearance in the postseason.[28] He finished the 2024 season with three sacks, 106 total tackles (73 solo), one interception, six passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.[29] However, in Super Bowl LIX, a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs lost to the Eagles, 40–22, erasing their hopes of becoming the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Bolton recorded nine tackles in the game, as he did the first time he took on the Eagles in the Super Bowl.[30]

On March 14, 2025, Bolton re-signed with the Chiefs on a three-year, $45 million contract.[31][32] He finished the 2025 season with one sack, 154 total tackles (73 solo), one interception, and six passes defended.[33]

Career statistics

NFL

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckTFLSftyPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2021KC 161211270420.01103000.00001861
2022KC 1717180108722.09032157.51501000
2023KC 886038220.0103111.0100000
2024KC 161610673333.01106100.0001200
2025KC 171715473811.01006100.0001000
Career 74706123622506.0420215163.215033861

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckTFLSftyPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2021KC 32191180.0100000.0000000
2022KC 33231580.0000000.00002361
2023KC 444018220.0201000.0000000
2024KC 33201190.0201000.0000000
Career 131210255470.0502000.00002361

College

Season Team GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
SoloAstCmbTfLYdsSckYdsIntYdsTDPDFRFF
2018Missouri 13121022131.03000000
2019Missouri 1274291038.5231.0923811000
2020Missouri 105342958.0182.06000501
Career 351398122017.5444.01823811501

Personal life

Bolton is a Christian.[34]

References

  1. Kolb, Jeff (February 10, 2023). "Chiefs Nick Bolton becomes first Frisco Lone Star grad to play in the Super Bowl". FOX 4. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  2. Murphy, Bryan (January 14, 2018). "Defensive Player of the Year: Nicholas Bolton (Lone Star LB, Sr.)". Star Local. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  3. Bratton, Michael Wayne (February 5, 2018). "Texas linebacker Nick Bolton commits to Missouri's 2018 recruiting class". Saturday Down South. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  4. Murphy, Bryan (February 7, 2018). "Mizzou bound: Three-star linebacker Nick Bolton signs with Missouri". Star Local. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  5. Tereda, Souichi (October 25, 2019). "Missouri's Nick Bolton stepping up on field as playmaker for Tigers' young defense". Kansas City Star. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  6. Baugh, Peter (September 11, 2019). "'It gives you perspective on everything you do': On Missouri LB Nick Bolton's driving force". The Athletic. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  7. Durando, Bennett (October 25, 2019). "All Over the Map: Nick Bolton's road to Missouri". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  8. "West Virginia at Missouri Box Score, September 7, 2019". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  9. Matter, Dave (December 9, 2019). "Mizzou's Bolton, Elliott named first-team All-SEC". STLtoday.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  10. "Nick Bolton - Football". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  11. Kercheval, Ben (December 28, 2020). "2020 AP All-America team: Alabama stars lead the way as Crimson Tide earn six first-team selections". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  12. Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Nick Bolton Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  13. "Nick Bolton, Missouri, ILB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  14. McMullen, Matt (May 1, 2021). "Five Things to Know About New Chiefs' LB Nick Bolton". Chiefs.com. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  15. Ortenberg, Andrew (May 13, 2021). "Chiefs Sign Second-Round LB Nick Bolton". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  16. Teicher, Adam (December 21, 2021). "Kansas City Chiefs add Tyreek Hill, 6 others to reserve/COVID-19 list". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  17. Teicher, Adam (December 25, 2021). "Receiver Tyreek Hill, activated by Kansas City Chiefs, will play Week 16 against Pittsburgh Steelers". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  18. "Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos - January 8th, 2022". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  19. "Nick Bolton 2021 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  20. "2021 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  21. "Nick Bolton 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  22. "2022 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  23. "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  24. Morgan, Emmanuel (February 12, 2023). "How Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Captured the Super Bowl Over Philadelphia". The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  25. "Nick Bolton 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  26. Maaddi, Rob (February 12, 2024). "Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime". AP News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  27. "Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  28. Gutierrez, Paul (November 29, 2024). "Raiders' disastrous fumble helps Chiefs win another nail-biter". ESPN. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  29. "Nick Bolton 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  30. "Super Bowl LIX - Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles - February 9th, 2025". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  31. Teicher, Adam (March 9, 2025). "Source: Chiefs re-signing LB Nick Bolton to 3-year, $45M deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  32. McMullen, Matt (March 14, 2025). "Chiefs Re-Sign LB Nick Bolton". Chiefs.com. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  33. "Nick Bolton 2025 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  34. Doering, Joshua (February 7, 2023). "Chiefs star Nick Bolton grateful for growth as 'follower of Christ'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved February 9, 2024.