AVENTURA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 28: Harrison Butker #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media during the Kansas City Chiefs media availability prior to Super Bowl LIV at the JW Marriott Turnberry on January 28, 2020 in Aventura, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker on Monday became the highest-paid kicker in the National Football League after signing a four-year contract extension.
The agreement earmarks $25.6 million for Butker, with $17.75 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. His new $6.4 million-per-year salary outpaces Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens and Jake Elliott of the Philadelphia Eagles.
“There’s no place I’d rather be than with the Chiefs, excited to finalize a 4 year extension,” Butker wrote via X. “To the Heights!”
Butker became the subject of controversy this offseason after delivering a religious and politically-charged graduation address at Benedictine College. In that address, he criticized President Joe Biden and encouraged female graduates to become homemakers.
“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” he told female graduates. “I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
The NFL later issued a statement saying Butker’s speech did not align with its views. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey launched an investigation into Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’s office after it made a social media post poking fun at Butker.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, however, defended his player against media scrutiny.
“I don’t think he was speaking ill to women,” Reid said of Butker’s speech. “He has his opinions and we all respect that. I let you guys in this room and you have a lot of opinions that I don’t like.”
Butker made a remarkable 94.3% of field goal kicks during the 2023 season, according to ESPN. He has racked up a total of 900 points for the Chiefs since 2017.
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