After failing to pull off a three-peat, the Kansas City Chiefs are determined to bounce back in the 2025 NFL season. Therefore, the team made sure to re-sign a multiple Super Bowl champion with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
On Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Chiefs are signing linebacker Nick Bolton to a three-year contract extension worth $45 million, with $30 million fully guaranteed.
Bolton, who turns 25 years old on Monday, was about to hit free agency after playing the final year of his rookie deal in the 2024 NFL season. The Chiefs made sure to secure him before other teams could step in.
According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Bolton was expected to draw interest from multiple teams around the league, including Chiefs’ AFC West rivals Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos.
Nick Bolton’s contribution to Reid, Mahomes’ success with Chiefs
Selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Missouri, Bolton will continue to develop with the team that trusted him from day one and with whom he already celebrated two Super Bowl wins.
Bolton played a key role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles by recording nine total tackles along with a 36-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Only a year later, he also stole the show in Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII win against the San Francisco 49ers with 13 total tackles, leading both teams on that stat.
Chiefs making moves ahead of 2025 NFL season
Keeping Bolton is another move that shows the Chiefs’ willingness to helping Reid and Mahomes chase more championships. Not long ago, the front office used the franchise tag on guard Trey Smith. Just like Bolton, Smith earned rings for Super Bowls LVII and LVIII with Kansas City.
The Chiefs did sacrifice an important contributor this offseason with guard Joe Thuney heading to the Chicago Bears, in a move that gave the front office more wiggle room with the cap space. Now, the Chiefs are using some of that space to hand Bolton a long-term deal.