A single line on a broadcast is enough to start a debate on social media. That’s what happened Friday when longtime NFL host Rich Eisen called Harrison Butker’s missed extra point during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 1 game with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Butker, a three-time Super Bowl champ, made all three field goals. But in the third quarter, he missed a game-tying extra point, and Eisen remarked, “Harrison Butker… interestingly enough is wide right.”
Those two words, “wide right” carried more meaning for many viewers. Fans quickly wondered if Eisen wasn’t just calling a miss but pointing to Butker’s politics, which have sparked plenty of debate over the past year.
Fan Reaction Turns Up The Heat On Eisen
The reaction came fast.
One fan posted, “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a play by play announcer make a political statement.”
Another called it “Wow, Rich Eisen threw shade at Butker big time. Pretty unprofessional man.”
A third wrote, “How are y’all making this political you need help.”
Butker has been no stranger to controversy. Earlier, he went viral for a graduation speech at Benedictine College. In it, he told then, “I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,”
He also gained some attention at the White House when President Donald Trump joked about his looks during the return of the Presidential Fitness Test. Butker now sits on Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, clarifying his political stance.
That context is why Eisen’s phrase carried extra weight. Fans connected the dots. Whether Eisen meant to or not, the internet decided he had delivered a sly jab, and for a kicker who often trends, whether it’s about his speeches, political ties, or even a monster field goal that had everyone talking, every moment seems to carry extra weight.
Butker didn’t respond to Eisen’s call. He has defended his beliefs plenty of times in the past, but this time staying quiet may be his best move. Eisen is one of the most respected names in sports broadcasting, and turning this into a deep conversation won’t help.
