Mizzou star brings confidence to the field for second Super Bowl
LAS VEGAS, Nevada. (KMIZ)
Former Mizzou star Nick Bolton has always been a winner. Although his Tiger teams may not have reached the heights he hoped on the field, Bolton found his own success, finishing his time in Columbia as a Butkus Award finalist and a second-team All-American. However, his winning spirit has reached new heights in Kansas City.
As an organization, the Chiefs are no stranger to winning either. It will be Kansas City's fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years when they take the field against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. For Bolton, it will be his second championship appearance in his three years with the team.
"We don't really have the unknowns and I feel like that kind of helps you be at ease a little bit," Bolton said. "Everybody has the same opportunities from here on out. We're just trying to put the game plan in and trying to execute, keep guys healthy, keep guys up in practice."
During Thursday morning's media availability, players said that the Mizzou alum is undoubted leader and quarterback of the Chiefs defense. Even when dealing with a dislocated wrist for multiple weeks throug the 2023 season, he brought the right energy.
"Nick brings a calmness to the defense when he's out on the field. He brings a swaggy confidence when he's out on the field," Chiefs safety Justin Reid said.
Leadership is a quality that spans all the way back to Bolton's days in Columbia. He said he's grown quite a bit in that department since getting draft by the Chiefs. He mentioned the importance of understanding how everybody operates a little bit different and handling all of those personalities.
Bolton also mentioned that he got to keep up with the success that the Mizzou football team found on the field in 2023, finishing 11-2 with a Cotton Bowl win and a Top-10 ranking. He said, as a guy that helped build that foundation, it's pretty special to see the growth.
"Obviously when I was there, we didn't have that much success and I think those guys have been hungry for that," he said. "We're trending in the right direction, man. I'm proud of them and I know they got a lot of bright spots ahead."
Bolton and the Chiefs will hope they have one big bright spot ahead on the other side of Super Bowl LVIII. Kickoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. CT.
