Harrison Butker (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs have revealed they’re considering benching Harrison Butker for kickoffs next season.
Butker has been performing kickoffs for the Chiefs since his rookie season in 2017 but could see the role handed to someone else in 2024.
Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke to reporters on Thursday and disclosed the team is mulling over keeping Butker benched for kickoffs.
While the kicker has been catching criticism from all over due to the controversial comments he made earlier in May, his potential benching has nothing to do with it. They’re considering it so he doesn’t take hits all season.
“I like to have somebody who is able to make a tackle, Butker is able to make a tackle, but I really don’t want him making tackles all year long,” Toub explained.
The NFL is set to introduce a new kickoff rule in 2024, and Toub has noticed that kickers in the UFL have been taking hard hits as they’re more involved in tackling.
“If you watched the XFL — I watched every play — I bet kickers were involved at least 25% to 40% of the tackles,” Toub added. “Either trying to make a guy bounce back or making the tackle or missing the tackle. We don’t want Butker in that situation.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google!Follow Us
Chiefs Name Harrison Butker’s Potential Replacements
The Chiefs are considering using safety Justin Reid or former rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on kickoffs instead of Harrison Butker. The latter joined the team in March after impressing at International Player Pathway pro day.
Reid has played in place of Butker while the kicker was injured, so the transition wouldn’t be new to him.
“Justin can cover, he can kick, and he can go down there and make tackles,” Toub pointed out. “He’s an extra guy they’re probably not accounting for. … A guy like Justin is a guy they have to worry about. They have to get him blocked and they have to give up blocking someone else.”
The #Chiefs have considered not using Harrison Butker for all kickoffs and instead using a player like safety Justin Reid.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said the new kickoff rule has kickers more involved in tackles, and they don’t want that for Butker.
The full answer is… pic.twitter.com/V10t0QkMFf
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 30, 2024
The coordinator reckons Rees-Zammit could be just as good in the role.
He said, “Louis has done above and beyond what I expected. He can kick field goals, he can be a kickoff guy for us. He’s every bit as good as Justin (Reid) is at moving the football and stuff like that on kickoffs.”
While Butker could be on the bench for kickoffs next season, Toub said the team will use him in certain situations if it makes sense.
Jason Whitlock And Michelle Beadle Engage In Heated Argument Over Harrison Butker’s Comments
Jason Whitlock, Harrison Butker, and Michelle Beadle (Photos via Jason Whitlock/YouTube & Getty Images)Jason Whitlock vs. Stephen A. Smith is getting old. Enter Jason Whitlock vs. Michelle Beadle.
Whitlock and Beadle have gone at each other in a recent back-and-forth stemming from Harrison Butker’s comments on women.
Beadle is among those who have taken issue with Butker telling women to focus on being homemakers and had a strong message for the Kansas City Chiefs kicker, telling him to “go F- yourself.”
“As a woman, I think everything he said was garbage,” she said. “But I think the fact that there were women in that audience that were not OK. I mean, granted, there were some that clearly were.
“But there also some that weren’t that have come out and since and been like, ‘What the hell, dude? We just worked our A- off for years, and you’re gonna come in here and tell us that’s all cute and stuff, but what you’re really gonna want to do is get married and have babies. Then you’ll feel important.’
“Like, go F- yourself. And by the way, it’s also my freedom of speech to say go F-yourself, Harrison Butker. That’s my freedom. I’m not gonna lose my job. And he should also have the right.”
Whitlock responded to Beadle’s outburst during his show on Friday, also tweeting the following:
“I used to really like Michelle Beadle. I used to love her energy, her spirit. This angry, bitter, and confused person that she’s become isn’t who she was 12 years ago. I blame social media for doing this to her.”
Michelle Beadle Fires Back At Jason Whitlock
Beadle fired back via Twitter/X, insisting Whitlock never knew her, but everyone knew him and made sure to steer clear.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google!Follow Us
“Sir, you didn’t know me 12 years ago. But we all knew you. And we’ve all made damn sure to distance ourselves from you since,” she wrote. “It’s why when your walls continue to cave in, you remain on an island. A sad, pandering island. So please…save the ‘angry , bitter’ stuff for someone else. Anyone who actually knows me, knows better. Best of luck with the grift…we all have bills I suppose.”
… And Then Whitlock Hits Back
Jason Whitlock responded on Saturday morning, urging Michelle Beadle to pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Hi, Michelle. I regret triggering you,” he wrote. “The peace, purpose, and joy you are looking for is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Have a great weekend.”
Let’s see whether Michelle responds.
