The NFL world was left in a tizzy when Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker delivered a commencement speech that was full of socially conservative rhetoric that was called into question. After he referred to women as needing to focus on being wives and raising children instead of entering the workforce and calling Pride Month “a deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it,” the NFL made a statement declaring Butker’s “views are not those of the NFL as an organization.”
Read more: A Kansas City Chiefs Player Gave The Most Controversial Commencement Speech of 2024
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also stated that he believes Butker is a “good person” though they are “not always going to agree on things.” Head coach Andy Reid offered up a similar sentiment, stating that the NFL is a “microcosm and everyone has their own beliefs.”
Tight end Travis Kelce also addressed the speech on his “New Heights Podcast” stating that he does not agree with what Butker said.
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There was naturally a huge backlash against Butker’s comments, but now the man himself has addressed the speech and how he feels after the whirlwind couple of weeks that followed it.
A report from ESPN covered Butker’s response to the speech on Friday night at Regina Caeli Academy’s Courage Under Fire gala in Nashville, Tennessee. Butker stated, “It is now, over the past few days, my beliefs or what people think I believe have been the focus of countless discussions around the globe,” Butker said Friday. “At the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate. But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion.”
“It’s a decision I’ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all,” Butker added. The kicker also indicated that he values his religion far more than football. That is good if the league plans to dish out any sort of punishment for what was said.
That is likely not going to be the case, as Butker’s opinions are his own. But in the highly unlikely scenario that Butker is cut, he is already of the mind that he values and stands by what he said more than playing in the NFL.
Butker is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs, and the idea would be he would remain on the team to attempt to secure the NFL’s first-ever three-peat championship.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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