Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker does not regret the comments he made during his controversial commencement speech three months ago.
On May 11, Harrison Butker gave a commencement speech to graduating students at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Butker made headlines when he made antisemitic, homophobic and misogynistic comments during the speech.
At one point, Butker encouraged the graduating female students to become “homemakers”, noting that his wife Isabelle made that decision.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the three-time Super Bowl champion expressed no regret for his comments, stating that he will “stand behind” what he said, per ESPN’s Adam Teicher:
“I’m going to stand behind what it is I’m saying. I kind of look at the offseason as a little bit of a maybe five-month period where I can just represent me as Harrison Butker as a faithful Catholic. And then obviously when it gets to the season, I try to focus as much as I can on football and not being a distraction for the Chiefs.”
Butker added that he’s spoken with several of his Kansas City teammates about his comments, stating that the mutual respect between all of them is “a beautiful thing to see” despite their different beliefs.
There’s no place I’d rather be than with the Chiefs, excited to finalize a 4 year extension. To the Heights! pic.twitter.com/geMUZTaNmZ
— Harrison Butker (@buttkicker7) August 5, 2024
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes responded to the backlash against Butker by stating that he didn’t agree with some of the kicker’s comments, but that the 29-year-old kicker is “a good person.” Head coach Andy Reid also tried to stay clear of the controversy, citing Butker’s freedom of speech.
Fans called for the Chiefs to move on from Butker, and an online petition received over 230,000 signatures. But on Monday, Butker was awarded a four-year contract extension worth $25.6 million that makes him the highest-paid kicker in football.
Butker and the Chiefs will open their 2024 championship defense with a home tilt against Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Kickoff Game on Sept. 5, a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Contest.
Harrison Butker Had A Career Year In 2023
Butker is coming off his best statistical season in which he made 94.3 percent of field goal attempts (33 of 35) and all 38 extra points. In the playoffs, he went a perfect 11-for-11 on field goals and eight-for-eight on XPs, helping the Chiefs to a second straight Super Bowl title.
Butke has made 89.1 percent of his field goal attempts and 94.5 percent of extra point kicks.
