Bolton signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Chiefs on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Bolton's deal includes $30 million in fully guaranteed salary, indicating that he'll remain a stalwart over the middle of Kansas City's defense moving forward. The 5-foot-11 linebacker, who turns 25 years old Monday, was set to hit free agency after putting up over 100 tackles in all but one of the last four seasons. This includes the 2022 campaign, when he finished second in the NFL in tackles with 180. Bolton should have a great chance to record over 100 tackles once again in 2025.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Prefers to remain in KC
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Bolton told reporters that Kansas City "feels like home" when asked about his impending free agency following Sunday night's 40-22 loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.
Bolton has started 53 of the 57 regular-season games he's appeared in since entering the league in 2021, tallying a team-leading 458 total tackles during that span. The 24-year-old also played three seasons at Missouri in college, stating that Kansas City has "welcomed [him] with open arms" for the past seven years. Given Bolton's significant role in the Chiefs' defensive success over the last four seasons and his desire to remain with the team, he'll likely ink an extension to stay in Kansas City this summer.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Active for Week 18
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Bolton is active for Sunday's game against Denver.
Bolton was initially listed as doubtful since the Chiefs are locked in as the AFC's No. 1 seed. He will suit up for Sunday's game, but it's unlikely that he will see the field. Blake Lynch will likely see most of the snaps at middle linebacker for the regular-season finale.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Doubtful for Week 18
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Bolton (coach's decision) is listed as doubtful ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Broncos.
With the Chiefs already securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, Bolton is likely to rest in Sunday's divisional matchup. He appeared in all 16 of Kansas City's regular-season games before Week 18, recording 106 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, six passes defended and one forced fumble. Although Bolton is not expected to play in Week 18, he'll remain one of the Chiefs' defensive leaders in the NFL playoffs.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Dominant in win
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Bolton logged five tackles (three solo), with 0.5 sacks, a pass deflection and an interception during Kansas City's win over the Browns on Sunday.
Bolton had an all-around dominant outing versus Cleveland as not only did he lead the team in tackles, but he also managed to record his first interception of the season. The 24-year-old will look to keep up his production during the Chiefs' upcoming Week 16 matchup versus the Texans.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Records sack in win
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Bolton recorded a sack among his five solo tackles in Sunday's 19-17 win over the Chargers.
The linebacker took the field for more than 90 percent of the defensive snaps for the 12th time in 13 games in 2024. Bolton has recorded 89 tackles (63 solo), 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery so far this season.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Leads team with 11 stops Friday
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Bolton tallied 11 tackles (10 solo) in Friday's 19-17 victory versus the Raiders.
Bolton reached double-digit stops for the second time this year and matched his season-high total, which he first established Week 5 against New Orleans. The star linebacker briefly left the game with a possible injury at the end of the first quarter but missed only a few plays. Bolton also recovered a fumble on a botched snap with 15 seconds remaining in the contest, ending Las Vegas' comeback bid.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Team-high nine tackles vs. Raiders
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Bolton logged nine tackles (seven solo) during Sunday's 27-20 win over the Raiders.
Bolton was the Chiefs' leading tackler Sunday, and he has logged eight tackles or more in six of seven regular-season games this year. On the year, Bolton has logged 53 tackles (37 solo) and three pass breakups.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Seven tackles Week 1
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Bolton had seven tackles (three solo) and one pass defensed in Thursday's 27-20 win over the Ravens.
Bolton was limited by injuries in 2023 to eight regular-season appearances, but he's among the NFL's best linebackers when healthy, as evidenced by his 180-tackle campaign in 2022. He typically isn't much of a factor in coverage, having posted exactly three passes defensed in each of the previous three regular seasons.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Active for Week 18
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Bolton (wrist/abdomen) is active for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Bolton practiced in full all week long, but with the Chiefs locked into the third seed in the AFC, he could see limited playing time or sit in pads on the sideline for the team's regular-season finale. Over his last four games, Bolton has 32 tackles (23 solo).
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: May not suit up Week 18
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Bolton (wrist/abdomen) is tagged as questionable for Sunday's contest versus the Chargers.
Bolton doesn't seem to be dealing with any serious health issues, as he was a full participant in all three practice sessions during Week 18 prep. However, the Chiefs are expected to rest multiple starters Sunday with the team locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC, and Bolton could be among them. If the linebacker doesn't suit up, Leo Chenal could start in his place.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Season-high tackles in win
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Bolton finished Sunday's 25-17 win over the Bengals with 13 tackles (nine solo).
Bolton reached double-digit tackles for the first time this season and played 60-plus defensive snaps for the third time. He's missed eight games this season but has played in the last four games and accumulated 32 tackles (23 solo) over that span.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Returns to practice Friday
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Bolton (illness) was a full participant in Friday's practice.
Bolton was given the day off Thursday due to an illness as well as lingering issues to his wrist and abdomen, but he returned to Friday's practice without limitations. He's accumulated 13 tackles (nine solo) over his last two games.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Gets day off due to illness
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Head coach Andy Reid said Bolton won't practice Thursday due to an illness in addition to wrist and abdominal injuries, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
The wrist and abdominal injuries are ones that Bolton had already been managing heading into last week's 27-17 win over the Patriots, but the illness is a new concern for the linebacker as the Chiefs begin Week 16 prep. With the team not playing until Monday against the Raiders, the standout linebacker will still have two more opportunities to potentially get back on the practice field and clear up any concerns about his availability for the divisional matchup.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Good for Week 15
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Bolton (abdomen) carries no injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Bolton was a limited participant for the first two practices of the week, but he practiced in full Friday and will be good to go for Sunday's contest. Bolton returned Week 14 against the Bills after spending five games on injured reserve with a dislocated wrist and finished that contest with eight tackles (five solo).
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Solid in return
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Bolton logged eight tackles (five solo) and a pass deflection in the Chiefs' 20-17 loss to the Bills on Sunday.
Bolton had a solid outing Sunday after spending the past six games on injured reserve with a wrist injury. In his first game back, the 2021 second-round pick managed to finish second on the team in tackles, bringing his total on the season to 36 (20 solo) in just five games.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Activated off IR
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The Chiefs activated Bolton (wrist) from injured reserve Saturday.
Bolton was able to participate in full this week and carried no injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills. He's played just four games this season, as he's missed time with an ankle injury and, most recently, a dislocated wrist that required surgery. Bolton will resume his starting spot at middle linebacker and help bolster a Chiefs defense that ranks fourth in the NFL in yards allowed per game (297.7).
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Moved to IR
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The Chiefs placed Bolton (wrist) on injured reserve Saturday.
Bolton dislocated his wrist in the second half of the Chiefs' 31-17 win over the Chargers in Week 7. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Monday that Bolton was set to undergo surgery for the injury and will be out for two months. Bolton has played in just four games this season and missed time earlier in the year with an ankle injury. In his absence, Drue Tranquill and Leo Chenal are candidates to receive more playing time at linebacker next to veteran Willie Gay.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Cleared to play Thursday
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Bolton (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Thursday's game against the Broncos.
The Chiefs will have one of the league's better linebackers back on the field Thursday after his three-game absence, potentially elevating a defense that's already been playing well. Bolton had 180 tackles last season and 15 over the first two weeks of 2023, with his absence the past three weeks allowing Drue Tranquill to accumulate 27 tackles in a three-down role.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Logs limited practice Tuesday
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Bolton (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Tuesday.
After missing a third consecutive game Sunday at Minnesota, Bolton was limited during Kansas City's first practice of the new week. He'll have one more chance to practice in full before Thursday's game versus Denver.
