It was an incredible, franchise-record-breaking season for Kansas City Chiefs' linebacker Nick Bolton in 2022. The second-year player's tackling ability was matched only by his exceptional leadership, and now with the playoffs underway, he'll aim to continue his strong play well into the postseason.

"I think he's done a great job of understanding and leading the defense," said Head Coach Andy Reid. "He's the transmitter between the front and back-end, so he's done a great job at communicating."

Bolton is undoubtedly a great player, but what has set him apart from others this season has been his ability to lead the defense. Bolton – at only 22-years-old – has stepped up to serve as the "green dot" this year, which essentially acts as the quarterback of the defense.

He also established himself as one of the best tacklers in the NFL this year. Bolton finished the regular season with 180 total tackles – the second-most in the league and a single-season franchise record.

Additionally, Bolton set another single-season franchise record by racking up nine games with 10 or more tackles. Setting two franchise records in one season is no small feat, and it goes to show the type of season that Bolton just put together.

"He's as sure of a tackler as you have in this league," said Reid.

Bolton has everything that you want when looking for a linebacker. He's smart, he flies to the ball, and he's a great example of a leader. Those qualities have collectively been the driving force behind his breakout season.

It was simply an outstanding year for the former University of Missouri star, but just like the rest of the squad, Bolton isn't focused on individual accolades. Instead, has his sights on a championship, and that journey begins on Saturday with a bout against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"I'm ready to play – I just took a week off and it felt like forever," said Bolton. "I'm ready to get back out there."