In a commencement address delivered at Benedictine College, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker stirred controversy as he criticized Pride month, President Biden's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his stance on abortion. The Super Bowl champion, known for his conservative Catholic beliefs, used the 20-minute speech to express his views on several contentious topics.

Speaking at the Catholic private liberal arts school located in Atchison, Kansas, Butker started his address by condemning what he referred to as "dangerous gender ideologies" in an apparent reference to Pride month, an annual celebration that commemorates the Stonewall riots in 1969. The 28-year-old athlete also took aim at an Associated Press article that highlighted a shift towards conservativism within certain parts of the Catholic Church.

Butker did not stop at social issues, turning his attention to President Biden's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He criticized the administration's handling of the crisis which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has resulted in the deaths of nearly 1.2 million people in the U.S. The kicker's controversial remarks prompted the Chiefs organization to abstain from commenting on his commencement address.

Despite the controversy, Butker's accomplishments within the NFL cannot be overlooked. As a seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2017, he has become one of the league's top kickers, setting a new franchise record for the Chiefs with a 62-yard field goal in 2022. He played a significant role in the team's Super Bowl victories in 2020 and 2023, and his clutch field goal in February forced overtime and secured a Super Bowl win against the San Francisco 49ers.

However, the off-season has been less than ideal for the Chiefs. Most notably, a ballot initiative proposed by the team to finance a downtown ballpark for the Royals and a $800 million renovation to Arrowhead Stadium was soundly rejected by voters in Jackson County, Missouri. Critics argued that the proposed plan primarily catered to VIPs and the wealthy.

Chiefs coach, Andy Reid, commented briefly on the situation, mentioning that he had spoken to Butker and would let the legal process play out. While the controversy surrounding the kicker's commencement address continues to make headlines, it remains to be seen how it will affect his standing within the team and the NFL as a whole.