Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker says a woman should be a ‘housewife’ in college commencement speech

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is drawing attention for comments he made during a commencement speech at Benedictine College last weekend, in which he congratulated female graduates, but then said that most were probably more excited about getting married and having children.

The three-time Super Bowl champion also denounced President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion and his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Catholic leaders who he said were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies on youth American”.

Butker delivered his roughly 20-minute speech Saturday at the private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, located about 60 miles north of Kansas City.

Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs known, also criticized an Associated Press article highlighting a shift toward conservatism in parts of the Catholic Church.

Butker, 28, took aim at Biden’s policies, including his response to COVID-19, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“While COVID may have played a significant role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,” ​​he said. “Bad policies and leadership have had a negative impact on major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as increasing support for degenerate cultural values ​​and media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.

Butker then addressed the women in the audience, saying his wife had embraced “one of the most important titles of all.” Household.”

“I think it’s you women who have heard the most evil lies,” Butker said. “Some of you may go on to successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are very excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into the world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly began when she began to live her vocation as a wife and mother.

The Chiefs declined to comment on Butker’s opening speech.

The seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2017 became one of the NFL’s best kickers, breaking the Chiefs’ franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022. Butker helped them win their first Super Bowl in ’50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and he made the field goal that forced overtime in a Super Bowl victory over San Francisco in February.

It’s been an embarrassing offseason for the Chiefs, though.

Last month, voters in Jackson County, Mo., roundly rejected a ballot initiative that would have helped fund a downtown ballpark for the Royals and an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs. Many voters criticized the plan presented by leaders, saying it was aimed primarily at VIPs and the wealthy.

That same week, wide receiver Rashee Rice turned himself in to Dallas police on several charges, including aggravated assault, after he was involved in a high-speed crash that injured four people. Rice admitted to being the driver of one of the sports cars that was traveling more than 100 mph, and the video shows him leaving the scene without providing information or determining whether anyone needed medical attention.

Last week, law enforcement officials told the Dallas Morning News that Rice was also suspected of assaulting a person at a downtown nightclub; Dallas police did not name Rice as a suspect in a detailed report to The Associated Press.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he spoke to the receiver and the team was letting the legal process play out.