There are not many NFL players that have become a household name for things they do or say off the field. Indeed, most players, like Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, reached high levels of fame due to their stellar play. While Kelce reached new levels of fame thanks to his relationship with Taylor Swift, he was already an immensely popular player among NFL fans before the pair started dating.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, though, has reached new levels of notoriety because of a commencement speech that he gave at Benedictine College back in May. During his address, he made statements that offended many groups of people.
What Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker Said During His Commencement Speech
There were several things that Butker said that offended various groups of people. One of these was insinuating members of the LGBTQ+ community are practicing a “deadly sin.” However, the comments that garnered the biggest reaction and received the most attention were those directed at women.
Butker said, “For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.
“How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
These comments, in particular, made Butker a household name across the country. Dozens upon dozens of celebrities spoke out against him on social media, and man daytime talk shows had segments dedicated to these comments.
For their part, Butker’s Chiefs teammates stood by him and supported him, while also stating that they did not agree with what he said.
Kansas City also gave him a contract extension before the 2024 NFL regular season began.
Social Media Roasts Harrison Butker After His Missed PAT Against the Atlanta Falcons
On Sunday night, with the Chiefs leading the Falcons 16-14, Mahomes connected with JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 13-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead.
Butker missed the ensuing extra point, leading to a flood of jokes on social media referencing things he said in his speech:
As one can see, many of the comments made referenced Butker’s traditional beliefs regarding the role of women in society.
Given the fact that the Chiefs are one of the most popular teams in the NFL, one can expect similar comments whenever he makes a mistake.
