Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has likened himself to a saint as he doubled down on the “misogynistic” speech he gave in which he said women are happier as “housewives.”
The 28-year-old gave a 20-minute speech at the Catholic private liberal arts college in Kansas last Saturday.
In it, he said men must “fight against cultural emasculation” and encouraged women to be “housewives” instead of working.
On Friday night, he doubled down on his comments and compared himself to Saint Daniel during another speech at a Regina Caeli Academy event in Nashville, Tennessee.
He told the event: ‘In recent days my beliefs, or what people think I believe, have been the focus of countless discussions around the world.’
On Friday night, he doubled down on his comments and compared himself to Saint Daniel during another speech at a Regina Caeli Academy event in Nashville, Tennessee.
He continued: “In the beginning, many people showed a shocking level of hatred. But as the days passed, even those who disagreed with my views shared their support for my religious freedom.
“As one might expect, the more I have spoken about what I value most, which is my Catholic faith, the more polarizing I have become.”
The kicker went on to say that he had “no regrets at all” about his decision, saying it wasn’t people but Jesus Christ he was trying to please.
He continued, “I cannot help but tremble to think of the courage that many Saints have shown in their lives. Would I be so bold if this was the repercussion Daniel faced when he was fed to the lions?
“In reality, any courage I’ve shown will lead to a little bit of suffering, and it will lead to some people never liking me again.
“When I continually remind myself of the hardships endured by the saints, especially the martyrs and their persecution, it doesn’t seem so bad.
“For if heaven is our goal, we must embrace our cross, no matter how big or small, and live our lives in joy to be a courageous witness for Christ.”
He also said he was “humbled” by the support he received from people for his comments.
Butker, an outspoken Catholic and married father of two, faced widespread criticism for his comments last week.
Butker is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs since joining the team in 2017
He added that his high school sweetheart and now wife Isabelle’s life “really began when she began living her calling as a wife and as a mother” after converting to his Catholic faith.
A petition demanding Butker’s release from the Chiefs and the NFL has gone viral in the wake of his controversial speech.
As of Saturday morning, more than 220,000 people had signed the petition to end his seven-season association with the Chiefs.
Travis Kelce broke his silence earlier this week and defended Butker over his comments, even as he said he almost entirely disagreed with them.
‘I’ve known him for years. I cherish him as a teammate. “I think Pat (Mahomes, the Chiefs quarterback) said it best as he was a great person and a great teammate,” he said.
“He has treated family and relatives that I have introduced to him with nothing but respect and kindness. And that’s how he treats everyone.
“When it comes to his views and what he said during St Benedict’s speech, those are his. I can’t say I agree with most or most of it, except that he just loves his family and his kids.
‘And I don’t think I should judge him on his views, especially his religious views, on how to live life, that’s just not who I am.
Butker celebrates on the field with his wife Isabelle and their son after beating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020
“I grew up in a wonderful upbringing of different social classes, different religions, different races and ethnicities in Cleveland Heights and that’s why I love Cleveland Heights the way it was.
‘It showed me a broad spectrum, a broad view of many different walks of life. I appreciated all those people for different reasons and I never felt like I had to judge them based on their beliefs.
“My household, my mother and my father both took care of my family and both my mother and my father made the house what it was. They were housewives and breadwinners. And they were incredible because they were there every day of my life.
‘I think that was a great upbringing for me. Now I don’t think everyone should have to do it the same way my parents did, but I certainly thank and love my parents for being able to provide and make the house what it was.
“I’m not the same person without them both being who they were in my life.”
Jason Kelce also said he disagreed with Butker, but struck out at the level at which the backlash came.
Butker, a seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2017, has become one of the NFL’s best kickers, breaking the Chiefs’ franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022.
He helped them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and he kicked the field goal that forced overtime in a Super Bowl win over San Francisco in February.
