{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}} {{other people|Nick Boulton}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Nick Bolton | image = Nick Bolton (51607609392) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Bolton with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 | current_team = Kansas City Chiefs | number = 32 | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|3|10}} | birth_place = Frisco, Texas, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 237 | high_school = Lone Star (Frisco) | college = Missouri (2018–2020) | draftyear = 2021 | draftround = 2 | draftpick = 58 | pastteams = * Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2021}}–present) | status = Active | highlights = * 2× Super Bowl champion (LVII, LVIII) * PFWA All-Rookie Team (2021) * Second-team All-American (2020) * 2× First-team All-SEC (2019, 2020) | statseason = 2025 | statweek = | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 612 | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = 6.0 | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = 3 | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = 3 | statlabel5 = Interceptions | statvalue5 = 5 | statlabel6 = Pass deflections | statvalue6 = 21 | statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns | statvalue7 = 1 | pfr = BoltNi00 }}
'''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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolb |first=Jeff |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Chiefs Nick Bolton becomes first Frisco Lone Star grad to play in the Super Bowl |url=https://www.fox4news.com/sports/chiefs-nick-bolton-becomes-first-frisco-lone-star-alumnus-to-play-in-the-super-bowl |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=FOX 4 |language=en-US}}</ref> He had 130 tackles and five interceptions as a senior and 111 tackles and one interception his junior season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Bryan |date=January 14, 2018 |title=Defensive Player of the Year: Nicholas Bolton (Lone Star LB, Sr.) |url=https://starlocalmedia.com/sports/gridiron/awards/defensive-player-of-the-year-nicholas-bolton-lone-star-lb-sr/article_beced1ae-f937-11e7-82d3-9b1d562923d8.html |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Star Local}}</ref> He committed to the University of Missouri to play college football.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bratton |first=Michael Wayne |date=February 5, 2018 |title=Texas linebacker Nick Bolton commits to Missouri's 2018 recruiting class |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/mizzou-football/texas-linebacker-nick-bolton-commits-missouris-2018-recruiting-class/ |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Saturday Down South |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Bryan |date=February 7, 2018 |title=Mizzou bound: Three-star linebacker Nick Bolton signs with Missouri |url=https://starlocalmedia.com/friscoenterprise/sports/mizzou-bound-three-star-linebacker-nick-bolton-signs-with-missouri/article_e64f6e88-0c37-11e8-9223-df36a8ab29d8.html |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Star Local}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tereda |first=Souichi |date=October 25, 2019 |title=Missouri's Nick Bolton stepping up on field as playmaker for Tigers' young defense |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article236637388.html |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Kansas City Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Baugh |first=Peter |date=September 11, 2019 |title='It gives you perspective on everything you do': On Missouri LB Nick Bolton's driving force |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1199676/2019/09/11/missouri-linebacker-nick-bolton-breakout-game-driving-force/ |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=The Athletic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Durando |first=Bennett |date=October 25, 2019 |title=All Over the Map: Nick Bolton's road to Missouri |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/tiger_kickoff/all-over-the-map-nick-boltons-road-to-missouri/article_5774295c-f60e-11e9-b12b-cfbd405bf8ce.html |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Columbia Missourian}}</ref> He had two interceptions, including one for a touchdown, in a game against West Virginia in the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Virginia at Missouri Box Score, September 7, 2019 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2019-09-07-missouri.html |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref> He was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) after finishing with 103 tackles, two interceptions and one sack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matter |first=Dave |date=December 9, 2019 |title=Mizzou's Bolton, Elliott named first-team All-SEC |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/mizzous-bolton-elliott-named-first-team-all-sec/article_c1b6fb06-d099-5fbc-9273-d262e6849b7b.html |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}</ref> During a COVID-19 scheduled ten game season in 2020, Bolton finished with 95 tackles and two sacks to close out his junior year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick Bolton - Football |url=https://mutigers.com/sports/football/roster/nick-bolton/7922 |access-date=January 3, 2021 |website=University of Missouri Athletics |language=en}}</ref> He was once again named first-team All-SEC. In addition, he received Associated Press Second-team All-American honors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kercheval |first=Ben |date=December 28, 2020 |title=2020 AP All-America team: Alabama stars lead the way as Crimson Tide earn six first-team selections |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2020-ap-all-america-team-alabama-stars-lead-the-way-as-crimson-tide-earn-six-first-team-selections/ |access-date=January 3, 2021 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 11 1/8 | weight = 237 | dash = 4.60 | ten split = 1.71 | twenty split = 2.62 | shuttle = 4.50 | cone drill = 7.40 | vertical = 32.0 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 7 | bench = 24 | arm span = 31 7/8 | hand span = 10 3/8 | wonderlic = | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Nick Bolton Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/nick-bolton/3200424f-4c67-8301-cd66-2b7e4543922a |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1028534&DraftYear=2021 |title=Nick Bolton, Missouri, ILB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> }}
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMullen |first=Matt |date=May 1, 2021 |title=Five Things to Know About New Chiefs' LB Nick Bolton |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/five-things-to-know-about-new-chiefs-lb-nick-bolton |access-date=May 8, 2021 |website=Chiefs.com}}</ref> On May 13, 2021, Bolton officially signed with the Chiefs on a $5.84 million deal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ortenberg |first=Andrew |date=May 13, 2021 |title=Chiefs Sign Second-Round LB Nick Bolton |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2021/05/chiefs-sign-second-round-lb-nick-bolton |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Pro Football Rumors}}</ref> Bolton was put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on December 21.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teicher |first=Adam |date=December 21, 2021 |title=Kansas City Chiefs add Tyreek Hill, 6 others to reserve/COVID-19 list |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32918325/kansas-city-chiefs-add-tyreek-hill-reserve-covid-19-list-sources-say |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> He was activated on December 25.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teicher |first=Adam |date=December 25, 2021 |title=Receiver Tyreek Hill, activated by Kansas City Chiefs, will play Week 16 against Pittsburgh Steelers |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32936512/receiver-tyreek-hill-activated-kansas-city-chiefs-play-week-16-pittsburgh-steelers |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> In Week 18, against the Denver Broncos, he recorded his first NFL touchdown on an 86-yard fumble return in the 28–24 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos - January 8th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202201080den.htm |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> As a rookie, he appeared in 16 games and started 12. He finished with 112 total tackles and three passes defended.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick Bolton 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoltNi00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> He was named to the 2021 PFWA All-Rookie Team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2021.htm |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
During the 2022 season, Bolton recorded two sacks, 180 total tackles (108 solo), two interceptions, three passes defended, and one forced fumble.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick Bolton 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoltNi00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> He finished second in the NFL in combined and solo tackles in the 2022 season,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2022/leaders.htm |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> helping the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVII.
Bolton then played a key role in their 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202302120phi.htm |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> leading both teams with nine total tackles, and returning a fumble by Jalen Hurts 36 yards for a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Emmanuel |date=February 12, 2023 |title=How Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Captured the Super Bowl Over Philadelphia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/02/12/sports/super-bowl-eagles-chiefs-score |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
During the 2023 season, Bolton recorded 60 total tackles, one interception, and three passes defended.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick Bolton 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoltNi00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LVIII where they defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 25–22, to repeat as Super Bowl champions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maaddi |first=Rob |date=2024-02-12 |title=Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime |url=https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> Bolton led both teams with 13 total tackles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202402110kan.htm |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Paul |date=2024-11-29 |title=Raiders' disastrous fumble helps Chiefs win another nail-biter |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42681894/las-vegas-raiders-kansas-city-chiefs-black-friday-fumble |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick Bolton 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoltNi00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LIX - Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles - February 9th, 2025 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202502090phi.htm |access-date=2026-04-26 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
On March 14, 2025, Bolton re-signed with the Chiefs on a three-year, $45 million contract.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teicher |first=Adam |date=March 9, 2025 |title=Source: Chiefs re-signing LB Nick Bolton to 3-year, $45M deal |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44180261/source-chiefs-re-signing-lb-nick-bolton-3-year-45m-deal |access-date=2026-05-01 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-re-sign-lb-nick-bolton|work=Chiefs.com|title=Chiefs Re-Sign LB Nick Bolton|date=March 14, 2025|accessdate=March 15, 2025|first=Matt|last=McMullen}}</ref> He finished the 2025 season with one sack, 154 total tackles (73 solo), one interception, and six passes defended.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick Bolton 2025 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoltNi00/gamelog/2025/ |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===NFL=== {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" ! colspan="2" |Legend |- | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;" | |Won the Super Bowl |- | style="background:#cfecec;"| | Led the league |- |'''Bold''' |Career high |}
====Regular season==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:50%" |- ! rowspan="2" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Team ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="6" | Tackles ! colspan="6" | Interceptions ! colspan="4" | Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Comb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Sfty !! PD !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD |- ! 2021 !! KC || 16 || 12 || 112 || 70 || 42 || 0.0 || '''11''' || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || '''86''' || '''1''' |- ! 2022 !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|KC || 17 || 17 || '''180''' || '''108''' || 72 || 2.0 || 9 || 0 || 3 || '''2''' || '''15''' || '''7.5''' || '''15''' || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2023 !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|KC || 8 || 8 || 60 || 38 || 22 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 1 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2024 !! KC | 16 || 16 || 106 || 73 || 33 || '''3.0''' || '''11''' || 0 || '''6''' || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || '''2''' || 0 || 0 |- ! 2025 !! KC | 17 || 17 || 154 || 73 || '''81''' || 1.0 || 10 || 0 || '''6''' || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoltNi00.htm Career] ! 74 !! 70 !! 612 !! 362 !! 250 !! 6.0 !! 42 !! 0 !! 21 !! 5 !! 16 !! 3.2 !! 15 !! 0 !! 3 !! 3 !! 86 !! 1 |}
====Postseason==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:50%" |- ! rowspan="2" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Team ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="6" | Tackles ! colspan="6" | Interceptions ! colspan="4" | Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Comb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Sfty !! PD !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD |- ! 2021 !! KC || 3 || 2 || 19 || 11 || 8 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2022 !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|KC || 3 || 3 || 23 || 15 || 8 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || style="background:#cfecec;" | '''2''' || '''36''' || style="background:#cfecec;" | '''1''' |- ! 2023 !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|KC || 4 || 4 || style="background:#cfecec;" | '''40''' || '''18''' || '''22''' || 0.0 || '''2''' || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2024 !! KC || 3 || 3 || 20 || 11 || 9 || 0.0 || '''2''' || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoltNi00/gamelog/post/ Career] ! 13 !! 12 !! 102 !! 55 !! 47 !! 0.0 !! 5 !! 0 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 2 !! 36 !! 1 |}
===College=== {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- |- ! rowspan="2"| Season ! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="7"| Tackles ! colspan="4"| Interceptions ! colspan="2"| 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 |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/nick-bolton-1.html Career] ! 35 !! 139 !! 81 !! 220 !! 17.5 !! 44 !! 4.0 !! 18 !! 2 !! 38 !! 1 !! 15 !! 0 !! 1 |- |}
== Personal life == Bolton is a Christian.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doering |first=Joshua |date=2023-02-07 |title=Chiefs star Nick Bolton grateful for growth as 'follower of Christ' |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2023/02/07/chiefs-star-nick-bolton-follower-christ-super-bowl/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Sports Spectrum |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{footballstats|pfr=B/BoltNi00|yahoo=33446|espn=4362759|nfl=nick-bolton|cbs=2965817/nick-bolton}} *[https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/nick-bolton/ Kansas City Chiefs bio] *[https://mutigers.com/sports/football/roster/nick-bolton/7922 Missouri Tigers bio]
{{Kansas City Chiefs roster navbox}} {{Chiefs2021DraftPicks}} {{Super Bowl LVII}} {{Super Bowl LVIII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bolton, Nick}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Frisco, Texas Category:American football linebackers Category:Missouri Tigers football players Category:Kansas City Chiefs players Category:Lone Star High School (Frisco, Texas) alumni Category:21st-century American sportsmen