Nick Bolton

For the cricketer, see Nick Boulton.

Nick Bolton
refer to caption
Bolton with the Chiefs in 2021
No. 32 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2000-03-10) March 10, 2000 (age 24)
Frisco, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:237 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:Lone Star (Frisco)
College:Missouri (2018–2020)
NFL draft:2021 / round: 2 / pick: 58
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2024
Total tackles:446
Sacks:5.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:2
Interceptions:4
Pass deflections:13
Defensive touchdowns:1
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]

College statistics

Season Team GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Solo Ast Cmb TfL Yds Sck Yds Int Yds TD PD FR FF
2018 Missouri 13 12 10 22 1 3 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019 Missouri 12 74 29 103 8.5 23 1.0 9 2 38 1 10 0 0
2020 Missouri 10 53 42 95 8.0 18 2.0 6 0 0 0 5 0 1
Career 35 139 81 220 17.5 44 4.0 18 2 38 1 15 0 1

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench 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)		 4.60 s 1.71 s 2.62 s 4.50 s 7.40 s 32.0 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, 2021.[16] He was activated on December 25, 2021.[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] Bolton helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVII where they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.[23] Bolton led both teams with eight solo tackles and 9.0 total tackles, and he returned 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. Bolton helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVIII where they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 to repeat as Super Bowl champions.[25] Bolton led both teams with 13 total tackles.[26]

During Week 13 of the 2024 season, 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 Kansas City Chiefs to the playoffs, marking their 10th straight appearance in the postseason. [27]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2021 KC 16 12 112 70 42 0.0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 86 1
2022 KC 17 17 180 108 72 2.0 3 2 15 7.5 15 0 1 0 0 0
2023 KC 8 8 60 38 22 0.0 3 1 1 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0
2024 KC 14 14 94 66 28 3.0 4 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Career 55 51 446 282 164 5.0 13 4 16 4.0 15 0 1 2 86 1

Playoffs

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Total Ast Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2021 KC 3 2 19 11 8 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 KC 3 3 23 15 8 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2 36 1
2023 KC 4 4 40 18 22 0.0 0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 10 9 82 44 38 0.0 0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2 36 1

Personal life

Bolton is a Christian.[28]

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". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. 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. ^ "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.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "Nick Bolton 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "2021 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "Nick Bolton 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "2022 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. 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. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  27. ^ Gutierrez, Paul (November 29, 2024). "Raiders' disastrous fumble helps Chiefs win another nail-biter". ESPN. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  28. ^ Doering, Joshua (February 7, 2023). "Chiefs star Nick Bolton grateful for growth as 'follower of Christ'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved February 9, 2024.