Curtis Bolton Bio
Curtis Giles Charles Bolton III (born December 18, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker who has spent his career moving between National Football League (NFL) rosters and practice squads. He has previously played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants, and he played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and competing at roughly 227 pounds, Bolton has carved out a journeyman career built on special teams contributions and inside linebacker depth work.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Bolton has traveled the country throughout his professional career, signing with nine NFL franchises since entering the league. He is of Italian descent and attended Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, California, before committing to Oklahoma over offers from Arizona and Fresno State, among others.
Early Life and Background
Curtis Giles Charles Bolton III was born on December 18, 1995, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and later relocated to Southern California during his formative years. He grew up in the Murrieta area and attended Vista Murrieta High School, where he developed into a productive high school linebacker. Bolton is of Italian descent, a heritage that has shaped his family background.
During his senior season at Vista Murrieta, Bolton posted 109 tackles, including 29 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, and was named the defensive MVP of the Southwestern League. That performance drew scholarship interest from multiple college programs. Bolton ultimately committed to the University of Oklahoma over reported offers from Arizona, Fresno State, and several other programs.
Path to American Football
Bolton’s path to professional football began at Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, California, where he became one of the most disruptive defensive players in the Southwestern League. His combination of pass-rush production and tackling volume made him an attractive recruit for Power Five programs. The University of Oklahoma offered him the opportunity to compete in the Big 12 Conference, and he signed with the Sooners.
At Oklahoma, Bolton spent multiple seasons developing before starting his senior year. His productivity that season cemented his status as a draft-eligible prospect, even though he ultimately went undrafted in 2019. That spring, he signed his first NFL contract with the Green Bay Packers, launching a career that has since taken him across multiple organizations.
Curtis Bolton Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Curtis Bolton signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft. He opened the preseason impressively, recording 8 tackles, 2 pass deflections, and an interception across the first two preseason games. His promising start, however, was cut short when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a preseason contest and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Bolton remained with the Packers into 2020, beginning training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list before being moved to the reserve/PUP list at the start of the regular season on September 5, 2020. On October 6, 2020, the Packers waived him, ending his time in Green Bay. Shortly afterward, on November 10, 2020, he was signed to the practice squad of the Houston Texans. He signed a reserve/future contract with Houston on January 4, 2021, before being waived on March 16, 2021.
Detroit Lions Era (2021–2022)
After brief stints with the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers practice squads during the fall of 2021, Bolton signed with the Detroit Lions practice squad on December 1, 2021. He made his NFL debut on December 12, 2021, in a game against the Denver Broncos, and was promoted to the active roster on December 28, 2021. His debut season in Detroit provided his first sustained taste of regular-season action.
Bolton’s time with the Lions ended on April 27, 2022, when he was waived. The brief Detroit stretch nevertheless represented his first appearances on an active NFL game day roster.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2022–2023)
Curtis Bolton signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on August 1, 2022, beginning his longest sustained NFL tenure. He was waived on August 30, 2022, and quickly signed to the Raiders’ practice squad the following day. Bolton was elevated to the active roster for the Week 5 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 10, 2022, and was promoted to the active roster on November 10, 2022.
Bolton re-signed with the Raiders on March 18, 2023, returning for a second season in Las Vegas. His 2023 campaign was interrupted when he was placed on injured reserve on September 30, 2023, before being activated on October 30, 2023.
Later Career and Tennessee Titans (2024–2025)
On July 27, 2024, Bolton signed with the Miami Dolphins. He was released on August 27, 2024, and signed with the New York Giants on August 28, 2024. He was waived on September 7, re-signed to the practice squad two days later, and waived from the practice squad on November 19, 2024. On December 10, 2024, he signed with the Tennessee Titans practice squad and later signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025.
Bolton was released by the Titans on April 16, 2025. His career reflects the journeyman reality of an undrafted linebacker who has consistently rebounded onto practice squads and active rosters throughout the league.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bolton built his professional reputation as a hard-hitting inside linebacker with value on special teams. His senior-year production at Oklahoma, where he recorded 138 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 2 pass deflections, showcased a player comfortable in run support and capable of rushing the passer in sub-packages.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most notable milestone came on December 12, 2021, when he made his NFL debut for the Detroit Lions against the Denver Broncos. Earlier, his eight tackles, two pass deflections, and interception in his first two preseason games with Green Bay marked him as a preseason standout before his knee injury interrupted his rookie year.
Curtis Bolton Career Highlights
Curtis Bolton’s professional resume is defined less by headline statistics than by perseverance across nine NFL organizations since 2019. His preseason performance with the Green Bay Packers offered an early glimpse of his ball-hawking instincts, and his senior-season production at Oklahoma served as his calling card entering the league.
NFL Highlights
Bolton appeared in regular-season games for the Detroit Lions in 2021 and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 and 2023, carving out roles on special teams and as a depth linebacker. His NFL debut on December 12, 2021, against the Denver Broncos remains a signature moment, and his multi-year stay in Las Vegas represents his most extended period of roster stability.
College and High School Highlights
At Oklahoma, Bolton started his senior season and tallied 138 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 2 pass deflections. At Vista Murrieta High School, he recorded 109 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks as a senior, earning Southwestern League defensive MVP honors.
Curtis Bolton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Curtis Bolton’s immediate family remains limited. He is of Italian descent, a heritage that traces back through his family lineage. Bolton has not publicly disclosed details about his parents in available records.
Personal Life
Bolton has kept much of his personal life private, with no publicly confirmed spouse or children in available records. He maintains an active presence on social media and has been based in various NFL cities throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Curtis Bolton’s 2025 NFL journey began with a reserve/future contract signed with the Tennessee Titans on January 6, 2025, following his December 2024 addition to their practice squad. That contract signaled the organization’s intent to evaluate him through offseason workouts and into training camp.
On April 16, 2025, however, the Titans released Bolton, leaving his 2025 status unresolved at the time of writing. Given his track record of quickly landing on practice squads or short-term deals, Bolton remains a candidate to be picked up by another organization seeking linebacker or special teams depth.
Heading into the remainder of 2025, Bolton’s outlook centers on catching on with a new team and earning another opportunity to contribute on special teams. His versatility and resilience through injuries and roster turnover continue to define his professional trajectory.