Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton discusses significant defensive changes for the 2026 season, including the departure of key players and the need for new contributors. Bolton expresses confidence in the team's ability to adapt and compete for another Super Bowl title.
Key points
Nick Bolton discusses defensive changes for the 2026 season
Four starters left the team, including Trent McDuffie
New players Alohi Gillman and Khyiris Tonga join the defense
Bolton expects competition for linebacker roles, including from Cooper McDonald
Communication is a focus during the offseason program
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 21: Nick Bolton #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the second half of the NFL 2025 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 21: Nick Bolton #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the second half of the NFL 2025 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 season will bring major changes on defense to the Kansas City Chiefs. Four starters departed the team as free agents following the blockbuster trade that sent star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for a package of draft picks centered around pick No. 29 in the upcoming NFL Draft.
On Tuesday, linebacker Nick Bolton spoke on the second day of Kansas Cityās offseason program. He assessed the departure of key talent with whom he won a pair of Super Bowls. Bolton trusts the team to find the right competition to produce the best replacements for talent lost ā and that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will find the best combination of skillsets on the team.
āItās kind of the same as itās always been,ā remarked Bolton. āThe year before, you come here and lay the groundwork with the guys you have in the building. You just are able to build off scheme wise with the players weāve had in the building. Obviously, itās a little bit different this year with the guys lost in the offseason. Weāll just start from the bottom, build the framework and foundation, find the things that everyone on this defense plays well and does well.
āCoach Spags will do a great job of that,ā Bolton continued. āAlong with just bringing in great competition throughout the camp and OTAs. So, itās the same as itās always been ā starting from ground one with the end goal in mind of competing for the Super Bowl.ā
A new major contributor will need to emerge in Boltonās room after linebacker departed for the in free agency. Chenal will be missed, but Bolton anticipates a competition to replace his vacated snaps.
āFrom the very first day he was here,ā Bolton recalled of Chenal, āhe said he brings physicality. Thatās kind of what he brought to our side of the ball. So, weāre definitely going to miss him. With that being said, I think we do a great job of bringing in great competition.ā
Bolton expects second-year pro to have a say in that competition. McDonald mostly saw action on special teams in 2025 after making the team as an undrafted free agent. After a late-season injury to Chenal, however, McDonald saw more defensive action in the final two games.
āCoopās done a great job,ā he observed, āwhen Leo couldnāt play I think the last two games of the season coming in and filling that void for us. I think a lot of young guys will come in and play a lot. Thatās our job as vets, and coaches as well, to get them playing to the place we need them to be. Iām excited for the guys we have in the building, for sure.ā
The Chiefs did add a pair of presumed defensive starters in safety Alohi Gillman and defensive tackle . Bolton anticipates both to be good fits.
He has little doubt of Gillmanās ability to pick up a defense because he already saw the veteran do so last year when he was traded from the to the .
āGillman, especially on the back end, heās going to be good for us,ā Bolton predicted. āHeās a vocal guy getting guys orchestrated into the back end. Heās played a lot of football and played in different schemes. Even last year, being able to go play at Baltimore halfway through the season, itās super huge in terms of seeing his communication.ā
No one should be surprised that the Chiefsā starting MIKE linebacker is excited to have Tongaās 335-pound frame plugging up run lanes. But Bolton has also been impressed with his new teammateās football knowledge.
āKT ā another one of those guys you can tell is intellectual,ā Bolton noted. ā[He] knows what heās talking about, knows ball and been around different schemes. Heās big up front. I love all the big guys we can get. Heās a good guy and a good person to be around.ā
The offseason is just starting and will continue through organized team activities (OTAs) and eventually into training camp. For the initial phase, Bolton knows the first goal is communication.
āObviously, this is laying the groundwork,ā said the linebacker. āCommunication, you just want to make sure everyoneās on the same page. Hand signals, verbal communication, visual cues ā all those things that you kind of build on early in this part of the year in OTAs and training camp. The biggest thing is weāre communicating defense.
āWe play multi schemes and multi different looks. Every game, every week we try to add a little bit of flavor to our scheme. Just be a big communicator. Be vocal even if youāre wrong. If youāre all right, weāre all wrong. Making sure everyoneās on the same page is one of the biggest parts we can get in this part of the season.ā
Q&A
What major changes are happening to the Chiefs' defense in 2026?
The Chiefs are experiencing significant changes with four starters departing, including star cornerback Trent McDuffie, necessitating new contributors to emerge.
Who are the new defensive players joining the Kansas City Chiefs?
The Chiefs added safety Alohi Gillman and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga as presumed starters for the upcoming season.
How does Nick Bolton feel about the competition for linebacker positions?
Nick Bolton is optimistic about the competition for linebacker positions, particularly highlighting second-year pro Cooper McDonald as a potential contributor.
What is Nick Bolton's assessment of new teammate Khyiris Tonga?
Bolton appreciates Tonga's size and football knowledge, noting his ability to understand different schemes and contribute effectively on the field.
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