Harrison Butker, the pious and patriotic kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, announced on Thursday night that he is backing former President Donald Trump in his third bid for the White House.
Butker, a polarizing figure now in his sixth NFL season, told Fox News’s Laura Ingraham in a live interview that his faith inspired him to back President Trump. The Georgia native has spoken passionately about rediscovering his Catholic beliefs in adulthood and told Ingraham that Trump will best look out for the interests of pro-life Americans. “I’m supporting the president that’s going to be the most pro-life president. I think Donald Trump… [that] is a topic that’s the most crucial topic for me. I want us to be fighting for the most vulnerable, fighting for the unborn, and that’s what we should prioritize,” Butker said, nodding to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) as they participated in a reelection campaign rally. “That is what Sen. Hawley is doing as a man of faith.
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The three-time Super Bowl champion has been an integral player in the Chiefs dynamic offense over the past six seasons and now boasts the title of the highest-paid kicker in the league. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the helm and tight end Travis Kelce dating pop superstar Taylor Swift, the Kansas City team has been an epicenter for outspoken celebrity players who in recent years have increased their political visibility. In May, Butker drew headlines while speaking at Benedictine College where he told recent graduates about the importance of family, children, and fighting for the unborn.
“Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues,” Butker said. “Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.” Neither did he mince words about President Biden. “Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally. He has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I’m sure to many people, it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice. But if we are going to be men and women for this time in history, we need to stop pretending that the Church of Nice is a winning proposition. We must always speak and act in charity, but never mistake charity for cowardice.”
Secular society was quick to criticize Butker for telling young women to pay greater attention to their future as mothers and wives rather than breadwinners, but others in his orbit were equally speedy to defend him. “I’ve known Harrison for seven years and I judge him by the character that he shows every single day—that’s a good person,” said Patrick Mahomes. “That’s someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family, and wants to make a good impact in society.” Mahomes acknowledged differing views within the team, adding, “There are certain things that he said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person that he is.
