Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Logs nine stops vs. Las Vegas
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Bolton posted nine tackles (four solo) during the Chiefs' 30-27 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Bolton played every single defensive snap during Sunday's win and finished as the Chiefs' second-leading tackler behind rookie corner Mansoor Delane (10). Through four regular-season games and heading into the Chiefs' Week 5 bye, Bolton leads the team with 37 combined tackles, which is tied with Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jihaad Campbell for sixth-most in the NFL.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Piles up 11 tackles in win
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Bolton recorded 11 tackles (eight solo) and a pass breakup in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Dolphins.
Bolton has now posted double-digit tackles in back-to-back games. He has 100-plus tackles in four of the last five seasons and appears to be well on his way to another. Bolton has 28 tackles (16 solo) and a pair of pass breakups through three games to begin the 2026 campaign.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Plays every snap in Week 1 win
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Bolton posted four tackles (two solo) and a pass defense during the Chiefs' 31-10 win over the Broncos on Sunday.
Bolton's four tackles would have been his second-lowest total of the 2025 regular season (two in Week 7 against the Raiders), though he still finished tied for the third-most tackles on the Chiefs behind L'Jarius Sneed (eight) and Drue Tranquill (seven). Even with Kansas City holding a commanding lead in the fourth quarter, Bolton still played all 51 defensive snaps, so he should have plenty of opportunities to put up larger numbers in the box score this season. He's logged at least 100 tackles in four of his six years in the NFL, and he finished the 2025 campaign with 154 tackles (73 solo), including 1.0 sacks, six pass defenses (including an interception) and one forced fumble across 17 regular-season games.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: All set for Christmas night
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Bolton (illness) is active for Thursday night's contest against Denver.
Bolton was added to the injury report with an illness Wednesday, but he'll now ultimately be good to go for Week 17. The linebacker has compiled 44 total tackles (21 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding two passes defensed over the last four games.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Uncertain Thursday due to illness
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Bolton (illness) is questionable for Thursday's Week 17 game against Denver.
Bolton popped up on the injury report as limited Wednesday after coming down with an illness. His official status for Thursday may not be known until the Chiefs release their list of inactives approximately 90 minutes prior to the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. Should Bolton be unable to play, Jack Cochrane could draw a start at linebacker.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Does not practice Thursday
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Bolton (illness) did not participate in practice Thursday.
Bolton was not listed on the injury report Wednesday, but he was unable to participate Thursday with an unspecified illness. The 25-year-old star will likely need to return to practice in some capacity Friday to have a chance to play Sunday versus the Chargers. The fifth-year pro has 112 tackles (54 solo), five pass breakups and a forced fumble through Week 14.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Double-digit stops in loss
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Bolton recorded 12 total tackles (six solo) in Sunday night's 20-10 loss to the Texans.
Bolton was able to pace the team in takedowns in Week 14, securing double-digit stops for the second straight game and third time in the last five contests overall. The linebacker has now registered 112 total tackles (54 solo), five passes defensed and a forced fumble over 13 games this year.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Logs eight tackles vs. Colts
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Bolton recorded eight total tackles (two solo) in Sunday's 23-20 overtime win over the Colts.
The Missouri product played 100 percent of the Chiefs' defensive snaps for the third consecutive game and led the team in total tackles during the Week 12 win. Bolton is one of Kansas City's most impactful defenders, appearing in 11 games and recording 89 total tackles, three passes defensed and one forced fumble. He's expected to remain a viable IDP option in the Week 13 matchup against the Cowboys on Thursday.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Logs sick tackles in loss
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Bolton recorded six tackles (five solo) and a pass defended in Kansas City's loss to the Broncos on Sunday.
Bolton played every defensive snap in the loss and has now racked up five or more tackles in three straight games. Across his first 10 outings of the campaign, the 25-year-old has totaled 81 tackles (40 solo) and one forced fumble.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Racks up 14 tackles
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Bolton recorded 14 tackles (five solo), including one tackle for loss in Sunday's 28-21 loss to the Bills.
Bolton saw his snaps dip slightly in Weeks 7 and 8, but he returned to a 100 percent clip in Week 9. He responded by matching his season-high with 14 tackles, although only five were solo. Bolton is having a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2024.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Registers six tackles in Week 4 win
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Bolton tallied six tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 37-20 victory over Baltimore.
Though relatively modest by his standards, Bolton's six stops ranked second on Kansas City. The veteran linebacker also recorded a QB hit. Through four weeks, Bolton has totaled 34 tackles and a defensed pass.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Makes 14 stops Sunday
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Bolton racked up 14 tackles (six solo) and defensed a pass in Sunday's 22-9 Week 3 win over the Giants.
Bolton's 14 tackles matched the amount he had recorded in the Chiefs' first two games this season. Of his stops Sunday, two went for a loss. Bolton has 28 tackles through three games as he pursues his fourth triple-digit campaign of his five-year NFL career.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Six tackles in Super Bowl rematch
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Bolton finished Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Eagles with six tackles (three solo).
Bolton played all 60 defensive snaps and finished tied with Drue Tranquill for third most tackles on the Chiefs. Bolton has played every single defensive snap in each of the first two games of 2025 after doing so three times in 2024. He's up to 14 tackles on the season, which is third most on the Chiefs behind Chamarri Conner (18) and Jaylen Watson (15).
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Inks big deal with Chiefs
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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: 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.
