Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker stood firm in his convictions Friday evening, addressing the intense response to his viral May 11 commencement address at Benedictine College. Butker made his first public remarks since the speech at the Regina Caeli Academy’s (RCA) “Courage Under Fire Gala” in Nashville, where he attended as a board member.
Butker began by acknowledging the event’s theme, “Courage Under Fire,” which he noted was decided months ago, foreshadowing the backlash he would face. “If it wasn’t clear that the timeless Catholic values are hated by many, 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. At the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate,” he stated.
The Chiefs kicker contrasted the current backlash with the criticism he has received in the NFL, noting that while he’s accustomed to comments about his on-field performance, the response to his faith has been more polarizing. “It’s a decision I’ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all. If we have truth and charity, we should trust in the Lord’s providence and let the Holy Ghost do the rest of the work,” Butker affirmed.
He emphasized that his motivation should be to glorify God, not seek worldly approval. “Our love for Jesus and thus our desire to speak out should never be outweighed by the longing of our fallen nature to be loved by the world. Glorifying God and not ourselves should always remain our motivation, despite any pushback or even support.”
Butker acknowledged the support he has received but stated that the backlash pales in comparison to the “courage many saints have shown in their lives.” He encouraged embracing life’s challenges with joy, saying, “If Heaven is our goal, we should embrace our cross, however large or small it may be, and live our life with joy to be a bold witness to Christ.”
During his commencement speech at Benedictine College, Butker’s remarks encouraging “homemakers” drew applause from the audience but also criticism from detractors, leading to a petition with over 100,000 signatures calling for his firing from the NFL for allegedly “sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist” comments. However, his jersey sales skyrocketed, ranking among the team’s top sellers.
While Travis Kelce, a Chiefs tight end, defended Butker’s right to free speech, his brother, Jason Kelce, a former Philadelphia Eagles center, shared a humorous reaction. Butker also criticized President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion during his commencement address.