Mizzou alum Nick Bolton hunts for his third-straight Super Bowl ring
NEW ORLEANS, La. (KMIZ)
Several Mizzou football alums have made it to football's biggest stage before, but none have made the history that is on the table for former Tiger star Nick Bolton.
If you make a list of former MU players that have won in a Super Bowl, it's pretty significant. Defensive back Henry Stuckey won in Super Bowl VII with the Dolphins, linebacker Andy Russell captured the Lombardi in Super Bowls IX and X with the Steelers and defensive back Eric Wright won the title with the 49ers in Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII and XXIV. However, none of those guys can say they've won three in a row. After all, no team in NFL history can say that.
Bolton and the Kansas City Chiefs hope to be the first to do so, following Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"They've got a good offense, man. Great up front, the offensive line is playing phenomenal, running backs are playing well and the best in the league, wide receivers out there doing their thing, " Bolton said. "So, yeah that's gonna be a great challenge for us man a great opportunity for us to go out there and try to play great defense one more time this season."
You can watch ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones' full one-on-one with Bolton in the video player below.
Much like his KC team, Bolton is no stranger to the bright lights and the big stage. In his four seasons in the NFL, the Chiefs have only missed the big game once, as the team has now made five Super Bowls in six seasons.
"When you have that long term of longevity and success, five or six years in a row, man, it's testament to the players and coaches, the front office man, but also just the coach of the team," he said.
Bolton added that, although Kansas City's trip to the Super Bowl is becoming an annual tradition, he never takes all the small moments for granted.
He's not taking for granted how tough of a team stands between the Chiefs and league history, either. Fittingly enough, the Eagles are the same team that Bolton won his first ring against in Super Bowl LVII in Arizona. In that game, the Mizzou alum became the first Tiger to record a touchdown in the Super Bowl, courtesy of a scoop and score in the win over Philadelphia.
"Chris Jones got penetration knocked off the puller and I just picked the ball up, man. Good to score, man. Got got some juice when we needed it. I think it was a good play for us, but any way how these games go, anybody can make those plays. You just got to be ready your name is called," Bolton said.
Bolton enters this Super Bowl bid on an important year, contract-wise, as well. After the clock hits zeroes on Sunday, the second-round pick's contract with Kansas City will expire. He's obviously been a critical piece in the franchise's success over the last four years and multiple reports have come out that he has been in talks for an extension in KC. However, he's keeping the contract and everything that comes after it off the brain, as Super Bowl week continues in New Orleans.
"Take care of this game. That's the most important and we're excited for that," he said.
It's clear just how much the player that is so beloved by Tiger football fans means to the Chiefs' defense.
"He's been a great like older brother. Like, you cannot overstate how much he's done, you know, for all of us. He's someone that I see as irreplaceable," linebacker Leo Chenal said. "He's a communicator on all three levels: linebackers, d-line and safeties. Like, we do our best to help out, but nobody's as quick and sharp and fast-thinking as Bolton."
You can watch the full interview with Chenal in the video player below.
Bolton and the Chiefs will kickoff Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans at 5:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, Feb. 9, with NFL history on the line.
