Considering these attributes, it’s no wonder Nick Bolton smashed Chiefs’ tackles record
The Chiefs had an idea in 2021 what they were getting when they used a second-round pick on former Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton.
From assuming the green-dot leadership role in 2022 to two productive seasons since being drafted out of Missouri, this tackling machine has certainly met the Chiefs’ expectations.
“I think he’s done a great job of understanding and leading the defense,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He’s got to make all the calls; he’s the transmitter between the front and the back end.
“He’s done a great job with communicating that and still being — with that load — still being the player and making the tackles that he’s made. He’s as sure (of a) tackler that you have in this league.”
The 5-foot-11, 237-pound Bolton entered the league with a reputation of being a fearless play-maker. He recorded 220 tackles (139 solo), four sacks, two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in three seasons at Mizzou.
His skill-set was an immediate fit for the Chiefs’ defense: He notched a team-high 112 tackles (70 solo), including 11 for losses, in his rookie season.
And then Bolton’s second season blew away the first. He recorded a new team record with 180 tackles (108 solo), breaking the previous mark of 179 held by Derrick Johnson. Bolton also had two sacks, two interceptions and six quarterback hits on a team-high 1,119 defensive snaps.
The Chiefs’ middle linebacker lived up to his tackling-machine reputation by making 10 or more tackles 10 times this season. His 180 tackles overall ranked second in the league behind only Jacksonville linebacker Foye Oluokun (184).
Bolton said he is humbled to hold the team record knowing a pair of Pro Football Hall of Famers came before him.
“It’s huge just to be in the conversation with those guys: Willie Lanier, D.J. (Johnson), all those guys, even D.T. (Derrick Thomas),” Bolton said. “Just to be named with those guys is special. I never thought that I’d be able to do that, so just having the opportunity to do that and doing it for our fans, my family and everything, it’s a blessing.”
The record, which Bolton established in the Chiefs’ season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, didn’t go unnoticed by Johnson, who tweeted him a congratulatory note.
Bolton, who has never been formally introduced to Johnson, appreciated that the former Chiefs linebacker took a moment to acknowledge the accomplishment.
“If you’ve been around here, you know how important he is to the organization and how much he is respected around here,” Bolton said. “I’ve got to meet him. I haven’t got to meet him (yet), so that’s one of the things I’ve got to do this offseason, for sure.”
FOOTBALL SMARTS
Bolton obviously has the physical gifts to do the things he does on the field, but there’s one aspect of his game that might go unnoticed.
Allow Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and linebackers coach Brenden Daly, both of whom know a thing or two about game-changing linebackers, to explain.
Spagnuolo’s long-time coaching experience includes being around the likes of James Laurinaitis, Jeremiah Trotter and Antonio Pierce, while Daly worked with Jerod Mayo and Dont’a Hightower in New England before joining the Chiefs’ coaching staff.
Each coach identified some common attributes between those linebackers and Bolton.
“The first thing that jumps out is the football intelligence,” Spagnuolo said. “The second thing that jumps out is the football instincts. In some ways one in the same, but Nick has a tremendous feel for the game. There’s a lot of times when it’s drawn up a certain way going into the week, and it when changes on him really quick, he can adjust.”
Daly agreed.
“All of those guys operate at an extremely high level in terms of understanding the game, understanding the defense, understanding the nuances of calls and adjustments,” Daly said. “And then (they) also have great ability to communicate there.”
There has to be high level of trust between the player and the sideline, too. And Bolton has the confidence of his coaches to see something on the field outside of the defensive alignment call and make suggestions for in-game adjustments.
“The other thing he’s really good at is in-game coming over and saying, ‘You know, I think we should do this, or maybe not do that because of this, or because of what they’re doing or what the quarterback is saying,’” Spagnuolo said. “That’s valuable. And all those other guys that you’re talking about used to do the same thing. It’s huge.”
GRATEFUL FOR A MENTOR
Bolton’s emergence as one of the Chiefs’ defensive leaders didn’t happen overnight.
In fact, it took a full season before he became what he is now.
In 2021, Bolton had an opportunity to watch former Chiefs middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens, who embraced a mentorship role with a willing student.
Bolton said he absorbed everything Hitchens taught him about lining up in disguise so the opponent’s blocking scheme didn’t account for him. The young linebacker then applied it to live game action with a view toward making tackles, including takedowns for losses.
“Man, that was huge,” Bolton said. “It was huge for my growth.”
The Chiefs didn’t bring back Hitchens for the 2022 season, electing to release the veteran in a salary-cap move. The transaction signaled the Chiefs’ complete faith in Bolton’s readiness to take the lead.
Bolton said he cherishes his relationship with Hitchens, noting that the two men have stayed in touch.
“I actually had a conversation with Hitch not too long ago and just thanked him for all the things he did for me and getting me to this point,” Bolton said. “Hitch has been the best vet. I mean, he’s probably been the best vet that’s ever been in the league.
“A lot of guys when you first come in won’t give you the chance, the opportunity to learn from them, especially if you have an opportunity to take their position. He was 100% a real pro in letting me go out there and just learn and being under his wing to grow every day.”
‘MORE TO PROVE’
Bolton’s development in just two seasons has made him a high-level contributor in Kansas City.
His overall play and ability to relay defensive calls from the sidelines to his teammates helped the Chiefs finish the 2022 regular season with a 14-3 record and the AFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs. With Bolton in the middle, the Chiefs ranked 11th in total defense (328.2 yards allowed per game) and eighth against the run (107.2).
But despite his production and value to the Chiefs’ defense, Bolton wasn’t selected to the Pro Bowl or The Associated Press All-Pro Team at his position group.
Instead, voters selected interior linebackers Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens and C.J. Mosely of the New York Jets for the Pro Bowl; Smith was also named to the first-team All-Pro Team.
Bolton took the snubs in stride.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say (I was) disappointed,” he said. “I kind of feel like I played better than some of those guys on the list, but I’ve got a lot of respect for everybody that is on the list. I mean, they played their asses off all season. I got a great deal of respect for every one of them.”
Receiving recognition from voters and becoming a household name outside of the Kansas City market could eventually become a nice reward for Bolton.
For now, however, there are bigger goals, starting Saturday when the Chiefs play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Divisional Round at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I’ve got more to prove, more football to play and a chance to win a championship,” Bolton said. “That’s all that really matters at the end of the day.”
This story was originally published January 19, 2023 at 10:13 AM.
