Former Mizzou star Nick Bolton prepares for a big contract year

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KMIZ)

Former Mizzou star Nick Bolton quickly made a name for himself in Kansas City. Ever since getting drafted in 2021, the linebacker has made an impact for head coach Andy Reid, as a leader of the KC defense.

Two Super Bowl rings later, Bolton is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2024. After Monday's practice, he met with the media and fielded questions about when he's hoping those negotiations will start up.

"From my standpoint, I'd just like to go out there and get through training camp, try to get out team the best way we can, figure out what we are on defense and to help us win football games," Bolton said. "We got a lot at stake, a chance to do a lot of things in the near future, so that's where my main focus is at right now." 

Bolton and the Chiefs will look to be the first team in NFL history to ever three-peat in the Super Bowl. However, despite the success he's seen in his three seasons in the league, Bolton still feels like he has something to prove.

"I was banged up a lot last year and I didn't put my best product out there," he said.

In 2023, the Tiger alum missed significant time due to a wrist injury. He said he felt like he was patched together and hobbled his way into the Super Bowl win against the San Francisco 49ers.

Now that he's healthy, he's focused on proving something to himself, after all he learned from his first real injury in the NFL.

"I think it's a lot of mental toughness with that, learning who I am as a person, learning who I can lean on outside of football," Bolton said. "Yeah, I think it's made me into a better person." 

Bolton emphasized that his primary focus is on getting the team ready for the 2024 season. He is not going to occupy his mind with contract talk, quite yet. After all, he has a lot of work to do, helping his defense adjust to the loss of both cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and linebacker Willie Gay.