It seems like there’s a pretty solid chance that Harrison Butker could be benched for the Chiefs this upcoming season.
You’re probably thinking that’s a good thing considering the circumstances. The less we see of Butker out in public these days after his unacceptable hate-filled speech, the better.
The dude said some shameful things that everyone, including his teammates and the league he plays in, has been working hard to distance themselves from.
But his ridiculous opinions aren’t why he might be benched for kickoffs next season.
Why are the Chiefs benching Harrison Butker?
It’s all because of a rule change. The league changed its kickoff rules to create a new hybrid kickoff—something we’ve seen in the XFL. Kicks will now require hitting a “landing zone” instead of just booting the ball out of the endzone, which should generate more kick returns.
Here are some details from Christian D’Andrea here:
“This reform, slated for a one-year pilot program next fall, would add several new wrinkles to free kicks, ideally allowing for greater returns while rewarding kickers for their accuracy. While the ball would still be placed at the kicking team’s 35-yard line, everyone but the kicker would line up 25 yards upfield at the receiving team’s 40. Five yards away from them would be the first line of blocking defense ahead of a maximum of two returners — a line that can’t go deeper than the 30-yard line.”
Here’s what that looks like.
Here’s what the new NFL kickoff will look like this season: pic.twitter.com/vtR5bqGZLK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2024
READ MORE: A full breakdown of the NFL’s new kicking rules
What does that have to do with Butker?
The Chiefs are already thinking about these kickoffs from a strategic standpoint.
Special teams coordinator David Toub said the new kickoff will have kickers more involved in tackles and that’s something the Chiefs don’t want Butker doing. So, instead of using Butker for kickoffs like kickers would be traditionally used, the Chiefs may place a safety like Justin Reid in that role instead.
The #Chiefs have considered not using Harrison Butker for all kickoffs and instead using a player like safety Justin Reid.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said the new kickoff rule has kickers more involved in tackles, and they don't want that for Butker.
The full answer is… pic.twitter.com/V10t0QkMFf
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 30, 2024
“I’d like to have somebody that can go back that is able to make a tackle,” Toub said to reporters. “Butker is able to make a tackle, but I really don’t want him making tackles all year long. If you watch the XFL, I’d bet kickers were involved in at least 25 to 40 percent of the tackles.”
So is Harrison Butker done with the Chiefs now?
No. The Chiefs will still use Butker. Toub reiterated that he is still the kicker for the Chiefs and will still be used in most kicking situations.
He can be used in certain kickoff situations if the Chiefs try to kick the ball at a certain angle. He’ll also be necessary when the team is trying to kick field goals and score on extra-point attempts.
So, to make a long story short, Butker will still be used. It’s just possible that we see him a bit less.
