Feature Story from 2024
A champion Christian NFL star sparked calls for his sacking after he expressed traditional Catholic and Biblical views in a speech at a Christian university’s graduation ceremony in May.
A national media firestorm erupted over Harrison Butker’s views on women, marriage, parenting, abortion, birth control, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, Pride events, the President and the Catholic church.
The Kansas City Chiefs kicker who’s won three Super Bowls in the past five years said he received a “shocking level of hate” in response to his commencement speech which received a standing ovation at Benedictine College in Kansas.
Nearly all the invective came from non-Christians who were outraged that he championed the role of women as “homemakers” in his speech.
Here’s what is considered the most contentious segment of his 20-minute speech:
“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.”
“I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
I’m on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”
[Applause lasting 18 seconds]
“She is a primary educator to our children. She is the one who ensures I never let football or my business become a distraction from that of a husband and father. She is the person that knows me best at my core, and it is through our marriage that, Lord willing, we will both attain salvation”
Within two days of the speech, more than 200,000 people had signed a petition calling for the Kansas City Chiefs to sack him.
Two weeks later that figure has stalled as people checked out what Harrison Butker actually said, the tenor of his speech, his audience and their reaction, and whether he was entitled to express views with which many people disagreed. The petition closed at 262,000 signatures.
He was never sacked. The NFL and the Chiefs kept a low profile and in August Harrison Butker was given a A$40 million four year contract — the biggest for a kicker in NFL history.
Sales of his No. 7 jersey surged since his speech to become the top selling Chiefs merchandise, surpassing the jerseys of star quarterback and fellow Christian Patrick Mahomes, and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce.
The devout Christian admits becoming more vocal about his faith and beliefs in the last few years.
But the 29-year-old father of two vowed that the pushback will not deter him from being “unapologetic” and doesn’t compare to the persecution Christian martyrs have faced.
He reflected that: “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.”
“Glorifying God and not ourselves should always remain our motivation despite any pushback or even support. I lean on those closest to me for guidance. But I can never forget that it is not people, but Jesus Christ who I am trying to please,” he declared.
The kicker said he “can’t help but tremble at the courage many saints have shown in their lives. Would I be so bold if the repercussions is what Daniel faced in being fed to lions?”
“In reality, any courage I’ve shown will lead to some small suffering and will lead to some people never liking me. That could be God’s will. If I constantly remind myself of the hardships that saints went through, especially the martyrs and their persecution, it makes it all seem not so bad.”
Fellow believer Patrick Mahomes said that while he doesn’t agree with all of Butker’s comments, he judges his longtime teammate based on the “character that he shows every single day. And that’s a good person, someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family and wants to make a good impact in society.”
“When you’re in the locker room, there’s a lot of people from a lot of different areas of life, and they have a lot of different views on everything, and we’re not always going to agree. There are certain things that he (Butker) said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person that he is, and he’s trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction,” he added.
Head coach Andy Reid said players are entitled to their opinions. “I didn’t talk to him about this, didn’t think we needed to. We’re a microcosm of life here by serving different areas, different religions, different races and so we all get along, we all respect each other’s opinions and not necessarily do we go by those, but we respect everybody to have a voice.”
Travis Kelce said: “I cherish him (Butker) as a teammate, every bit of a great person and a great teammate. He has treated friends and family that I’ve introduced to him with nothing, but respect and kindness and that’s how he treats everyone.”
“When it comes down to his views and what he said at the commencement speech. those are his. I can’t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids and I don’t think that I should judge him by his views, especially his religious views, of how to go about life. That’s just not who I am,” Kelce said
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said: “We have over 3,000 players. We have executives around the league. They have a diversity of opinions and thoughts just like America does. That’s something we treasure,” the commissioner proclaimed.
NFL Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Jonathan Beane stated: “Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organisation. The NFL is steadfast in its commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
Tavia Hunt, the wife of Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, maintained that: “Affirming motherhood and praising your wife, as well as highlighting the sacrifice and dedication it takes to be a mother, is not bigoted. It is empowering to acknowledge that a woman’s hard work in raising children is not in vain. Countless highly educated women devote their lives to nurturing and guiding their children.”
Her daughter Gracie Hunt praised Harrison Butker’s “Christian faith and what he’s accomplished on and off the field.” She pointed to her experience being raised by “the most incredible mum who had the ability to stay home and be with us as kids growing up [as] really formative in shaping me and my siblings into who we are.”
Harrison Butker has played for the Chiefs since 2017. Shortly after signing his record contract he suffered an injury which kept him off the field for several weeks and impacted his form on his return which was celebrated by NFL fans and others who loathe Christians.
The Chiefs remain in contention for their fourth Super Bowl in six years.
Photo: Screenshot – YouTube – Benedictine College
