The Kansas City Chiefs made a big move on Sunday, re-signing starting linebacker Nick Bolton on a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million fully guaranteed.

Bolton has been with the Chiefs since entering the league as the No. 58 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Through 16 regular-season games in 2024, the two-time Super Bowl champion recorded a team-leading 106 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, six passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble.

Bolton is a key contributor for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, leading the team in tackles in three of his four NFL campaigns so far.

Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes subtly reacted to this big-time move on Sunday, re-posting the NFL’s social media announcement on X.

Before the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Spagnuolo referred to Bolton as his defense’s “Patrick Mahomes.”

“[Bolton] is our Patrick Mahomes – that’s what he means… to me.”

“He’s the piece, the key ingredient, just like Antonio Pierce when I was with the Giants in [2007],” the Kansas City defensive coordinator continued. “They’re that glue that holds everything together.”

Mahomes and the Chiefs leaned heavily on the Kansas City defensive throughout their 2024 campaign. The 29-year-old QB had some strong words of praise for his defense this past season.

“We’ve won different ways. At the end of the day, our defense is playing their tail off, and I think people are starting to come to realize that even more,” Mahomes said back in October.

Now locked in with a new contract, Bolton and the Chiefs defense will look to continue their impressive play in 2025.