Kansas City Chiefs leadership is maintaining full confidence in place kicker Harrison Butker following a mixed performance in Sunday’s victory against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.
Butker opened his Week 6 outing by converting a 44-yard field goal before missing an extra point. He subsequently rebounded to make his next extra point attempt and connected on a 50-yard field goal. Later in the contest with the Chiefs leading 19-6 during the fourth quarter, Butker missed a 52-yard attempt before concluding the game with a successful 30-yard kick.
Head coach Andy Reid expressed full support for the veteran kicker during a Wednesday media session, noting that Butker possesses strong legs and will work through the current inconsistency. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub echoed that sentiment on Thursday, emphasizing that mechanics are not an issue for the 31-year-old specialist.
Through the first five regular-season games of the current campaign, Butker has converted 10 of 13 field goal attempts for a 76.9% success rate, placing him in a three-way tie for 22nd across the league. Long-distance attempts have presented the primary challenge this year, with Butker going 1 for 4 from beyond 50 yards. By comparison, he converted 94.3% of his total field goals in 2023, including a perfect 5 for 5 from 50 yards or deeper. His accuracy shifted to 84% in 2024 with a 2-for-5 mark from distance, followed by an 86.8% conversion rate and a 5-for-8 performance from 50-plus yards last season.
Toub noted that the team tested Butker extensively during practice at the team facility on Wednesday, where he responded by making all 10 of his attempts, including successful tries from long range. The coaching staff pointed to Butker’s extensive postseason resume as evidence of his continued reliability in high-stakes moments. Butker stands as the franchise’s all-time postseason leader in field goals and extra points, boasting a 90% postseason field goal conversion rate. That record includes a 27-yard game-winning kick against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII and a 29-yard game-tying kick against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII that forced overtime. Earlier this season, Butker secured two overtime victories, including a 40-yard winner against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.
Coaches also noted that Butker’s physical approach and daily preparation remain unchanged from previous years. During the 2024 season, Butker underwent surgery on his left knee and missed four games, requiring an offseason effort to reestablish his kicking technique. Toub stated that Butker has successfully recovered from that physical hurdle and maintains his usual rigorous preparation schedule.
The missed kicks ultimately did not prevent a Chiefs victory on Sunday, but the schedule grows tighter as the team prepares to travel to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. Current Las Vegas betting odds indicate that the upcoming contest could be decided by a field goal.
