Harrison Butker: The Controversial Commencement Speech and Beyond

Who is Harrison Butker?

Harrison Butker is a 28-year-old kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft after playing college football at Georgia Tech. Butker has established himself as one of the league's top kickers, ranking second in NFL history in career field goal percentage (minimum 100 attempts) with an impressive 89.1%.

The Controversial Commencement Speech

Recently, Harrison Butker delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College, a small Catholic institution in Kansas. His remarks sparked widespread backlash and controversy as he railed against LGBTQ rights, diversity initiatives, and President Joe Biden's leadership during the pandemic and stance on abortion.

Butker, an outspoken Catholic, criticized Catholic leaders for not being more like St. Damien of Molokai, a Catholic priest known for his work with lepers in Hawaii. He also expressed his disappointment with the Catholic Church's response to various social and political issues.

Harrison Butker's Response to the Backlash

In his first public comments since the controversial speech, Harrison Butker defended his address and emphasized his Catholic faith. He stated that he does not regret his words and stands by his beliefs.

"I do not regret at all what I said," Butker said. "I was just trying to speak from my heart and my Catholic faith and my beliefs and my convictions."

Butker's Career and Stats

Despite the controversy surrounding his commencement speech, Harrison Butker remains a key player for the Kansas City Chiefs. In his NFL career, he has made 189 of 212 field goal attempts, with a long of 58 yards. He has also converted 243 of 249 extra point attempts.

Butker has been a part of two Super Bowl-winning teams with the Chiefs (Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LVII). In Super Bowl LVII, he set the record for the longest field goal in Super Bowl history with a 57-yard kick.

Additional Information

Harrison Butker is 28 years old, born on July 14, 1995.
He stands at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters) tall.
Butker's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.
He is married to Isabelle Butker, but details about their kids (if any) are not publicly known.
Butker's jersey number with the Chiefs is 7.