Sports
Harrison Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs‘ veteran kicker, has never shied away from the spotlight, whether for his on-field precision or his controversial public remarks.
After sparking national debate with a viral 2024 commencement speech that touched on abortion, Pride Month, and even Taylor Swift, Butker is now turning his focus to football. More specifically, he’s criticizing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s new kickoff rule, and he’s not alone in his frustration.
Patrick Mahomes might have finally found Tyreek Hill replacement as a deep ball catcher
This spring, the NFL approved a rule that moves touchbacks from the 30 to the 35-yard line, encouraging more kickoff returns and fewer automatic touchbacks. The change is modeled after the now-defunct XFL’s kickoff format, which was designed to reduce high-speed collisions while increasing game excitement. Butker, however, sees it differently.
“No one is happy with touchbacks,” Butker said bluntly, adding that the rule penalizes skilled kickers who pride themselves on hang time and directional accuracy. He believes the rule is a gimmick designed to inflate return stats while ignoring the nuance of a kicker’s job.
“If I can place it in [the landing zone], have good direction and hangtime… that’s kind of what my job is,” Butker explained. For him, the new rule undermines the very skill set elite kickers spend years developing.
The irony isn’t lost on fans: this is the same kicker who nailed a 35-yard game-winner in January to send the Chiefs to their third straight Super Bowl appearance. When someone with that kind of résumé speaks up, it carries weight. Butker’s comments reflect broader skepticism among players and fans, many of whom feel the league is prioritizing entertainment over athletic integrity.
Mahomes faces receiver woes at Chiefs camp
While Butker battles the league office off the field, Patrick Mahomes is facing his own challenges on it. The Chiefs’ training camp in St. Joseph has turned chaotic, with three key wide receivers suffering injuries in a single morning session.
Rookie Xavier Worthy left briefly after a hard fall, while new signing Hollywood Brown was carted off with an ankle issue. To make matters worse, Skyy Moore also exited with a hamstring injury.
Though head coach Andy Reid downplayed the severity of the injuries, fans are understandably nervous. Mahomes, already adjusting to a reshuffled receiver group, now finds his chemistry-building process delayed.
Add in ongoing concerns about an 18-game season and the pressure is mounting. As Butker critiques Goodell’s rule changes, and Mahomes navigates an uncertain offense, the Chiefs’ 2025 season is shaping up to be a battle on multiple fronts.
This news was originally published on this post .
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