Nick Bolton is a polarizing figure in Chiefs Kingdom. His fans see him as the brains and heart of the Kansas City defense, while his detractors view him as a player whose limitations can sometimes make him a liability. The truth is probably that both sides are right, but regardless of what you think of him, he is going to remain in Kansas City now that he has agreed to a 3 year/$45 million extension with $30 million guaranteed.
As expected, reactions were mixed when news of Bolton's re-signing broke on Sunday. In a sports media landscape where hot takes are the norm, you’ll likely see arguments that this was both an idiotic move and a brilliant one. I won’t go to either extreme. It was a move the Chiefs felt was necessary, and I can live with that for one simple reason: Steve Spagnuolo.
We can talk about the number of tackles Nick Bolton has made. We could discuss the big plays he has delivered in some of the Chiefs' biggest games. We can highlight how he excels against the run at a time when the NFL seems to be shifting back toward featuring the ground game. On the flip side, we could point out that Bolton lacks elite sideline-to-sideline speed. We could mention that he struggles in pass coverage yet still plays on passing downs. But none of that is what really matters today.
Chiefs fans may love or hate Nick Bolton's new contract, but all that matters is that he's the man Steve Spagnuolo wanted for the job.
The Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowls following the 2022 and 2023 seasons, largely because of the rise of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Yes, the Chiefs had defensive stars like Chris Jones, L’Jarius Sneed, and Trent McDuffie during this run, but their defensive success has been just as much—if not more—about the execution of Spagnuolo’s schemes as it has been about individual star power. That is where Nick Bolton comes in.
Steve Spagnuolo has essentially said that Bolton is his eyes, ears, and voice on the field. Bolton knows Spagnuolo’s system inside and out. He understands what Spags wants to run, how it should be executed, and where everyone else is supposed to line up. That doesn’t show up in a box score. It doesn’t make a highlight reel. But that doesn’t make it any less important.
Willie Gay was the perfect contrast to Bolton. Gay is as athletically gifted as any linebacker we’ve seen in Kansas City, but there were numerous times when Spagnuolo didn’t trust him to be on the field. He couldn’t rely on him to know where to be or what to do. That’s why the Chiefs didn’t even match the one-year, $3 million deal Gay received from the New Orleans Saints last offseason, while they are now paying Bolton $15 million per year. Athletic ability simply isn’t as valuable to them as having a field general they trust to ensure the entire defense is functioning smoothly.
It’s also worth mentioning that Kansas City is poised to lose its top leader in the secondary. While Trent McDuffie may be the All-Pro and most talented member of the secondary, Justin Reid was another player Spags leaned on for leadership and knowledge of the defensive scheme. Losing both Reid and Bolton would likely create too big of a leadership void on that side of the ball.
During the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl wins, "In Spags We Trust" became a mantra echoed by Chiefs fans throughout the Kingdom. If that statement still holds true, you have to be okay with the Nick Bolton signing—maybe not thrilled about it, but accepting of it. That doesn’t mean Bolton doesn’t have limitations or that his weaknesses won’t be exposed at times. It just means you understand that Spagnuolo runs a complex defense that requires players like Bolton to operate effectively. Sometimes, the plays other defenders make happen because Bolton ensured they were in the right place and knew what to do.
So what do you think, Chiefs fans? Are you willing to trust Spags when it comes to Nick Bolton re-signing with the Chiefs, or do you wish they had let him walk in favor of a cheaper but less trusted option in the middle of Kansas City’s defense? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below.