Butker's crime was sharing those views, including that the most important thing in most people's lives should be having a family, at a commencement speech at a...Catholic university.He was swiftly condemned by many, while the NFL rushed to distance themselves from those views and reaffirm their commitment to wokeness.Still, in a great credit to their organization, the Kansas City Chiefs stuck by him while others may have immediately cut him to avoid angering the sports media mob.
And they're likely glad they did.The 31-year-old in 2025 made 33 of 38 field goal attempts with a long of 59.COWBOYS MAKE BRANDON AUBREY THE HIGHEST-PAID KICKER IN NFL HISTORY: REPORTSKansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker celebrates after making a 69-yard field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Aug.
22, 2026.(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)But based on his kick in Saturday's preseason game, that long might get bumped up in 2026.
Just before halftime in the Chiefs game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Butker came on for a whopping 69-yard field goal try and booted it straight through the uprights.May have been good from 72 yard, somehow.KENTUCKY MAN CREDITS YOUNGHOE KOO'S EMBARRASSING BOTCHED FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT WITH SAVING HIS LIFEButker did go on to miss another kick later in the game, something he felt was more important than even the extraordinary length."You've got to make your kicks.
Miss an extra point, miss a game-winner.That's what I care about, not the 69-yarder or whatever it was," he said after the game."I feel like throughout my career when I've had big kicks, it's been a struggle to finish the game or the next game.
I feel like mentally I was good on that 43-yarder.It felt good off my foot.
Maybe I need some more caffeine for the second half or something."The kick, impressive as it was, is indicative of a broader problem in the NFL: it's become far, far too easy for kickers to make field goals fro...