The back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs signed Harrison Butker to a four-year, $25.6 million extension earlier this week, making him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL.
Butker has played a vital role for the Chiefs and his clutch contributions to Kansas City’s recent string of enormous success cannot possibly be overstated.
The face of the franchise, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, made it clear how thrilled and overjoyed he is that Butker will continue to be his teammate for the foreseeable future.
“It’s awesome,” Mahomes said of Butker’s contract extension. “For me, it’s just getting in field-goal range in some of these situations.
“Like at the end of the Super Bowl last year, and knowing that once we cross the 50, we’re pretty much good to at least get to overtime.
“It’s something that you have to just rely on, and it’s something that’s just fun to have, honestly.”
Head coach Andy Reid also spoke of Butker’s value to the team.
“Obviously, it means a lot,” Reid said when asked about Butker’s importance. “He’s been in huge situations for us, consistently delivering, and his reliability has been outstanding.”
“This won’t bother him,” Reid said when asked if the new contract would be a distraction for Butker.
“He has a strong work ethic and stays focused. It won’t be a distraction at all. I’m happy for him and the organization. He’s a fantastic football player and a great kicker.”
Butker’s performance last season was instrumental in the Chiefs’ path to yet another Super Bowl victory. He was perfect on extra points and successfully made 33 of 35 field goal attempts.
Mahomes summed up the team’s sentiment, “Knowing we don’t have to worry because we have a guy who will knock it through is huge. I’m glad they were able to get the deal done so he can go out there and just kick field goals.”
Mahomes also spoke glowingly of former NFL head coach Jon Gruden who recently spent time around the team at training camp.
“Just to hear [Gruden and Andy Reid] talk about old-school football players is always cool for me being a football historian,” Mahomes said.
Only time will tell if we end up seeing Gruden back in the league.
What are your thoughts on the Chiefs this season?
Can they actually pull off a historic three-peat???