Nick Bolton Built To Become New Leader On Chiefs Defense

Embed from Getty Images
As the Kansas City Chiefs enter a new season in 2022, many changes have occurred across the roster. A great chunk of their championship core from a few years ago are now gone. Meanwhile, a focus on getting younger defensively could push the Chiefs into becoming a more complete team. One of those pieces has already caught many people’s attention after last year’s rookie campaign. And in 2022, his role should increase dramatically. That is the case for linebacker Nick Bolton.

Gone are the leaders that Kansas City counted on for the last few seasons. Namely, Tyrann Mathieu and Anthony Hitchens are now absent from the middle of the defense. Each player held many responsibilities for the Chiefs, especially from a preparedness and instinctual perspective.

With his demeanor, history at the University of Missouri and mental makeup, Bolton is built to be the perfect leader for this new-look Chiefs defense. Moments off of the football field have helped mold him to become stronger mentally. At the same time, his athletic profile is necessary for the linebacker position in today’s NFL, something that Kansas City did not always have recently. This is someone who the team should give the entire keys to defensively. Let’s kick it off.

Calm. Cool. Collected.

There is an exuding amount of confidence that Nick Bolton instills in his defense. Kansas City has quickly thrown plenty of new responsibilities at him entering his sophomore season. As he handles the green dot in the middle of the Chiefs defense, Bolton is someone who incoming rookies will look up to. This is a role that he relishes in. It was that simple for him while at Mizzou. Moreover, the team was specifically impressed with his ability to multitask in year one. The Chiefs are expecting that to carry over even further in year two.

“I was very impressed with Nick a year ago, particularly from a mental standpoint,” said Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly. “He’s one of those people that the more you’re around him, the more impressed you become with him. He’s grown from a mental standpoint. He’s grown from a communication standpoint. And he’s grown from a leadership standpoint.”

Bolton understands that there is no time to waste, as this Chiefs defense begins to alter. The opportunity is knocking heavily right now. For he and the other hopeful pillars of the Kansas City defensive unit, the chance is there for the taking.

“I feel like it’s our time, our young guys, and not just me,” Bolton says. “Willie (Gay), Justin Reid, Juan (Thornhill) and the young guys on the defensive line. It’s our time to step up and lead as a group.”

If there’s any indication, Nick Bolton will continue to lead by example and play with his hair on fire. That energy is crucial to Kansas City as a whole.

Family Influence

Elsewhere, there was another moment that became crucial in the life of Nick Bolton. He has also been a necessary leader off of the football field. This time around, it involved his close family. It happened at a very young age for Bolton, to boot.

In his interview with NFL 360 before the 2021 NFL Draft, Bolton opened up about his sister, Jazmine. His sister was 18 years old when doctors discovered a tumor in her brain. Nick Bolton, nine years old at the time, quickly saw his role in the family change. While their parents worked, it was Jazmine who watched after Nick. Making sure he was getting necessary items each day was normal for her. Yet, the diagnosis allowed the linebacker to eventually become the caregiver to his older sister, someone he called his “second mother.”

“You can’t just look past it. You see your sister look a certain way one day, the next day you see her look totally different,” Bolton said.

With that life-changing event, Nick Bolton became very detailed, committed and prepared for any moment. This obviously came to fruition on the football field. In addition, it helped him prepare for a second cancer diagnosis within the family.

This time around, it was his mother, Jalunda, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This was something that Nick mentioned as something that was scarier in that NFL 360 interview. Mainly because, Bolton was now old enough to understand the harsh realities of life and death.

Both his mother and his sister survived cancer. And for him, Bolton mentioned how that allowed him to operate by feeling “no pressure.” His leadership is built on the resiliency that his family showed. Furthermore, Bolton understands what he is able to handle and what he cannot control.

Tiger Stripes

Embed from Getty Images
Missouri was able to land an extremely determined and motivated recruit. Nick Bolton was seemingly focused on doing all he could to come through for his family. Due to this, the Tigers received immediate production from the Frisco, Texas native. He rose to the top of the SEC linebacker rankings. At the same time, Bolton’s game grew into all-around form. He was more than just a downhill thumper. Bolton learned how to read opposing offenses. Finally, he also learned how to defend against the pass, while in the middle of the field.

How does this translate to the leadership of Nick Bolton? Overall, his playmaking ability allowed him to lead by example. He was not necessarily forced to be a rah-rah guy. Instead, Bolton was able to lead the Missouri defense by displaying both resolve and self-initiative.

Initial Impact

When Kansas City drafted Nick Bolton in the second round in 2021, he was viewed as the long-term future at MIKE linebacker. That was obviously not the position that he played to start his rookie campaign. The Chiefs began playing Bolton as the weak-side linebacker. Surely, the team expected him to do well initially. Not many people would have predicted as successful of an output as he had from that spot, though. And, it came in the form of Bolton being a rotational piece.

He totaled 112 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, three pass breakups and one fumble recovered for a touchdown. Those 112 tackles led the entire Chiefs team for 2021. On top of that, Bolton became the ninth rookie since 2000 to eclipse 110-plus tackles and 10-plus tackles for loss, courtesy of NFL.com. The last one to do it? Stud linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, Darius Leonard, who has also churned out a terrific career start in the NFL. What is in store for Nick Bolton in 2022?

The Middleman

The chance to wear the green dot for the first time in the NFL is more important than it may seem on the surface. For one, Bolton will be tasked with calling out defensive play calls on the field. Making sure his teammates are aligned or positioned correctly will be major. On the flip side, Bolton will be looked upon to help improve the Chiefs’ run defense. That has been a challenge for the team over the last few years. If there is anyone who thrives in that setting and thrives as a top leader, it is Nick Bolton himself.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles in the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.