Harrison Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs’ veteran kicker, is known for being an introvert who values his privacy. However, when Benedictine College, a small Catholic institution in rural Kansas, invited him to deliver their commencement speech this past spring, Butker felt a strong sense of duty to accept the invitation—and to speak his truth.
“After seven years in the league, I’ve been given a platform,” Butker explained. “With that platform comes a responsibility to share what I believe is important.”
Butker spent months crafting his May 11th speech, which sparked controversy for its perceived anti-gay and sexist content. In his remarks, he criticized Pride Month and suggested that the role of a homemaker is more valuable for a woman than any achievements in the workplace.
Despite the backlash, Butker remained resolute in his stance. “I stand by what I said,” he asserted. “During the offseason, I have the opportunity to represent myself as Harrison Butker, a faithful Catholic. When the season starts, my focus shifts entirely to football, ensuring I’m not a distraction for the Chiefs.”
Butker’s comments resonated within the Chiefs’ locker room, prompting deep discussions with his teammates. Through these conversations, both sides gained a greater understanding of each other’s perspectives.
“It’s been a beautiful experience,” Butker reflected. “That’s the magic of sports, especially football. Few sports bring together 50 to 100 people with diverse beliefs, all united in the pursuit of victory. Our different personalities and backgrounds enrich our team, and despite our differences, we share a common goal—to win football games.”
Butker, known for his clutch kicks in both regular season and playoff games, recently signed a contract extension, making him the NFL’s highest-paid kicker. His career field goal percentage of 89.1% is the second-highest in league history.
Having been with the Chiefs longer than most current players, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Butker holds a unique position in the locker room. Mahomes and Kelce publicly acknowledged that while they might not agree with many of Butker’s views, they respect his right to express them and continue to value him as a teammate.
“It meant a lot to me for them to say that,” Butker said. “I want people to know that even if we disagree, I’m still going to love you, no matter how different our opinions might be. We can still get along and probably be good friends.”
Where did the Chiefs kicker come from?
Harrison Butker originally played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He was then drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. However, he didn’t stay there long and was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs where he’s been a key player ever since.
How much does Harrison Butker make a year?
Harrison Butker’s average annual salary is $6.4 million. He recently signed a contract extension that made him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL.
