Linebacker Nick Bolton agrees to new deal with Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A captain for the Kansas City Chiefs defense is officially back after agreeing to terms on a contract days before free agency begins.

Linebacker Nick Bolton, 24, got an early birthday present, signing a three-year deal worth $45 million one day prior to his 25th birthday, according to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter.

According to Schefter, Kansas City will give Bolton $30 million as part of a signing bonus on the deal.

The 5-foot-11 product out of Mizzou was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the 58th overall pick. He signed a 4-year, $5.83 million rookie contract after being drafted by the Chiefs and received a proven performance escalator in 2024 that increased his salary to $2.9 million for his final season with the Chiefs.

Bolton had a team-high in tackles in 2024, 2022 and 2021 for Kansas City. He missed time due to a broken forearm in the 2023 season, which caused him to start only 8 games and finish sixth on the team in tackles that season.

In 57 career, regular-season games, Bolton totaled 458 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 4 interceptions.

Bolton famously returned a 36-yard scoop-and-score fumble from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for a game-tying touchdown in the second quarter of Super Bowl LVII. That was one of two Chiefs Super Bowl victories the former Mizzou Tiger was a part of.

Bolton was the highest-selected player in the Chiefs 2021 NFL Draft class. That class included Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, tight end Noah Gray and right guard Trey Smith, who all remain a part of Kansas City’s roster -- each having agreed to a contract extension (or in Trey Smith’s case been franchise tagged) to remain with the organization beyond their rookie deal.

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