Harrison Butker is facing pressure with the Kansas City Chiefs after another difficult performance, with critics online celebrating his missed kicks and revisiting the controversial speech that made him a divisive figure in 2024. The NFL kicker missed a 51-yard field goal during the Chiefs' 35-12 win over the New York Jets on 8 November.
The miss followed an earlier 56-yard attempt that was wiped out after a Jets penalty, giving Butker another chance from five yards closer. He missed again, prompting boos from fans at Arrowhead Stadium.
The setback has reignited criticism, with detractors calling it karma after his remarks about women and LGBTQ+ people. Butker's struggles are a sporting issue, however, and there is no evidence that his views caused his decline.
It looks like Harrison Butker needs a strong, independent woman to teach him how to properly kick a football.
— David Roberts (@volts.wtf) November 9, 2026 at 3:33 AM
A Difficult Run of Form
The numbers explain the scrutiny. By 9 November, Butker had converted 12 of 19 field-goal attempts in the 2026 regular season, a success rate of 63.2%. He had missed seven field goals and one extra point.
That is a sharp drop from 2023, when he converted 94% of his field-goal attempts and made all five kicks attempted from beyond 50 yards. This season, he has made just two of eight attempts from that distance.
Across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Butker has missed 17 kicks, including field goals and extra points—the highest total in the NFL over that period, according to NBC Sports. The figures have fuelled questions about whether Kansas City will continue to rely on the 31-year-old.
every time harrison butker misses a field goal a woman is elected to public office
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) November 8, 2026
Andy Reid Yet To Decide His Future
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has not confirmed whether Butker will keep his starting role. Speaking to reporters on 9 November, Reid said: 'With Butker, I haven't made any decisions yet'. He added that he would assess the situation before deciding how kicking duties and practice repetitions would be handled.
The Chiefs have veteran kicker Justin Tucker on their practice squad, although Reid has not announced a change. Butker acknowledged the frustration after the Jets game, saying: 'People are passionate, the fans are passionate. They want to win games. They want me to make kicks. I want to make kicks. It's part of it. That's what you sign up for, and I've got to be better'.
Harrison Butker talked all that weird “women should stick to the kitchen and having babies” shit and now he’s gonna have plenty of time to make sandwiches for his kids. Karma is a bitch. https://t.co/6wfSbNwxUw
— bella (@dollyqwe1) November 8, 2026
The Speech That Sparked Backlash
The reaction has been coloured by his commencement address at Benedictine College in Kansas on 11 May 2024. During the speech, he told female graduates he believed many were most excited about marriage and having children.
He praised his wife's role as a homemaker and described it as one of the most important titles. He also criticised Pride Month and made remarks about what he called 'dangerous gender ideologies'.
The comments drew criticism from women's rights and LGBTQ+ advocates, who said his remarks were sexist and hostile towards LGBTQ+ people. Others defended his right to express his religious beliefs.
Critics Bring the Controversy Back
Now, nearly two and a half years later, his missed kicks have given critics another reason to discuss the speech. Online reactions have included memes and comments celebrating his poor form, with some describing it as karma catching up with him.
The controversy has not disappeared, even as Butker tries to regain consistency. The two issues should not be confused: his performance does not prove anything about his beliefs, just as criticism of his speech does not determine whether he can recover his form.
For now, Reid's decision remains uncertain. Butker is under pressure to deliver, while critics continue to remind the public why his name became a flashpoint in the first place—and why the debate continues today.
