Harrison Butker Becomes NFL’s Highest Paid Kicker

The Kansas City Chiefs signed kicker Harrison Butker to a four-year contract extension, making him the highest-paid kicker in the National Football League.

With a guarantee of $17.75 million, the extension would be worth a total of $25.6, or an average of $6.4 million per season.

Butker, who represented himself in the contract re-negotiation, converted on 33 of 35 field goal attempts for the Chiefs last regular season. He was also flawless in extra point attempts for the campaign, going a perfect 38-for-38 on PATs.

A huge piece of the puzzle for the back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Chiefs, Butker also accomplished a perfect postseason, hitting all 11 of his postseason field goal attempts. He also made each of his eight postseason PAT attempts.

In Super Bowl LVIII, Butker connected on all four of his field goal attempts, including a Super Bowl record 57-yarder. His long distance kick surpassed the previous Super Bowl mark of 55 yards, set earlier in the same game by San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody.

Butker’s 29-yard field goal with three seconds left in regulation forced the Super Bowl to go to overtime for only the second time in history. The Chiefs would win their second straight Lombardi Trophy (and third in five years) in overtime when Patrick Mahomes found Mecole Hardman in the end zone for a touchdown pass to win 25-22.

Moody had connected on the 49ers first possession of overtime, allowing the Chiefs to get one possession to tie or win the game.

Butker’s Off-Season In The Spotlight

Butker has been in the media spotlight this off season due to some comments he made at a commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas this spring.

In his controversial speech, Butker addressed topics such as women’s reproductive rights–panning the Supreme Court’s reversal of the Roe vs Wade decision of 1973. He also shared his personal feelings regarding LBGTQ+ issues including Pride Month, which drew consternation from many.

Birth control, diversity and inclusion, and “degenerate cultural values” were other topics mentioned by Butker in his speech.

Butker also said that many of the graduating women from the college were “probably more excited about getting married and having kids,” than their educational accomplishment.

At the ESPN “Espy Awards”, Butker was slammed by co-host Serena Williams, who mentioned Butker when speaking about women’s sports during the awards ceremony.

On stage along with her sister Venus Williams and actress/comedienne Quinta Brunson, Serena had no qualms calling Butker out personally. 

“Go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports,” Venus said, “because they are sports.”

“Except you, Harrison Butker,” said Serena. “We don’t need you.”

“At all,” added Brunson. “Like, ever.”

Since the commencement comments and the corresponding social media outcry in response to them, Butker’s #7 Chiefs jersey has been one of the highest-selling jerseys in the league.

Super Bowl Hangover?

Eight other teams have won back-to-back Super Bowls (the Pittsburgh Steelers have done it twice), but no team has been able to “three-peat”, something the Chiefs can accomplish should they once again reach the postseason.

In recent years, the previous season’s Super Bowl winner has been scheduled to open the following regular season on Thursday night of Week 1. This year is no exception, as the Chiefs are slated to host the Baltimore Ravens for the season’s lid-lifter.

Week 1 Spread	Caesars	FanDuel	bet365	DraftKings	BetMGM
Baltimore	+3 (-115)	+3 (-110)	+3 (-115)	+3 (-112)	+3 (-115)
Kansas City	-3 (-105)	-3 (-110)	-3 (-105)	-3 (-108)	-3 (-105)

Last season, the Chiefs lost at home to the Detroit Lions, 21-20. Butker made both of his field goal attempts and both PATs he attempted in Week 1.

In 2020, following the Chiefs 31-20 win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, Kansas City hosted the Houston Texans in Week 1. Butker was again perfect on the day (2-for-2 on field goals and 4-for-4 on PATs), as the Chiefs beat the Texans 34-20.

In the last ten NFL seasons, the defending Super Bowl champions have won six of their Week 1 matchups.  

Season	Defending Champ	Result	Score	Opponent
2014-15	Seattle	LOST	34-31 (OT)	St. Louis Rams
2015-16	New England	WON	28-21	Pittsburgh
2016-17	Denver	WON	21-20	Carolina
2017-18	New England	LOST	42-27	Kansas City
2018-19	Philadelphia	WON	18-12	Atlanta
2019-20	New England	WON	33-3	Pittsburgh
2020-21	Kansas City	WON	34-20	Houston
2021-22	Tampa Bay	WON	31-29	Dallas
2022-23	L.A. Rams	LOST	31-10	Buffalo
2023-24	Kansas City	LOST	21-20	Detroit
2024-25	Kansas City	???		Baltimore

As the Chiefs start their quest for the first Super Bowl “three-peat” they will have nothing but confidence in their star placekicker.