Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said he\u2019d only just\u00a0agreed to his three-year contract extension\u00a0with the team on March 9 when he got a phone call.<\/p>\n
It was defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo … reaching out from his own vacation in Miami.<\/p>\n
\u201cKind of like a dad call,\u201d Bolton said last week with a smile.<\/p>\n
The ensuing conversation included plenty of encouraging words, much like they were coming from a father figure.<\/p>\n
But that was also after Spagnuolo started by saying, \u201cThis is a great way to start the weekend off,\u201d and followed with, \u201cHappy to get you back in the building.\u201d<\/p>\n
The feeling was mutual for Bolton, who re-upped with the Chiefs before free agency officially opened a few days later \u2014 and when he\u2019d have been able to negotiate with all 32 teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking with family, my agent,\u201d Bolton said, \u201cit (re-signing) just made the most sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Bolton signed a\u00a0three-year contract extension for $45 million, with $30 million guaranteed. It\u2019s a big chunk of money for an off-ball linebacker, which typically isn\u2019t viewed as one of the NFL\u2019s premier positions.<\/p>\n
Then again, it\u2019s clear that the Chiefs don\u2019t view Bolton as an ordinary player, either.<\/p>\n
Bolton started each of the last four seasons for the Chiefs after being taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Spagnuolo has constantly spoken of his admiration for the former Missouri Tigers star, even crediting him for\u00a0calling a critical blitz\u00a0that helped the Chiefs\u00a0win Super Bowl LVIII\u00a0against the San Francisco 49ers.<\/p>\n
The two share a deeper bond than that, too. Bolton revealed that Spagnuolo has contacted him a few times since he re-signed with the Chiefs, just to chat about things that aren\u2019t football.<\/p>\n
Like this: Spagnuolo met Bolton\u2019s father, Carlos, on one of Nick\u2019s first days with the Chiefs. Spagnuolo asked then if Carlos still had any years left in him to play football.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s one family member Spagnuolo asks about, Bolton says. He also brings up Bolton\u2019s siblings, his mom, his girlfriend \u2014 and then shifts the focus to how he\u2019s doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe checks in every single week, makes sure my mental is good, my family is good,\u201d Bolton said. \u201cAnd I just do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bolton\u2019s extension comes after he played a year with some uncertainty.<\/p>\n
He was on the last year of his rookie deal in 2024, saying he and his agent only briefly discussed an extension with the Chiefs over the summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the conversations in training camp were like, \u2018Oh well, he was hurt last year. Kind of want to make sure he can stay healthy,\u2019\u201d Bolton said. \u201cI was dinged up a little bit. So, I understood from both sides of the argument. I just wanted to go out there and put my best foot forward, give myself 17 games, be healthy and play good football.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s essentially what Bolton did. He started every game for the Chiefs last season while leading the team with 106 tackles.<\/p>\n
Bolton said he didn\u2019t find it difficult to concentrate solely on football while his future remained unclear.<\/p>\n