Chiefs owner backs Harrison Butker’s political push for ‘traditional values’
The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs said Wednesday he has no problem with kicker Harrison Butker creating a political action committee aimed at encouraging Christians to vote for what the Pac describes as “traditional values.”
Butker announced his Upright Pac in a series of social media posts last weekend.
“One of the things I talk to the players about every year at training camp is using their platform to make a difference,” said Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt. “We have players on both sides of the political spectrum, on both sides of whatever controversial issue you want to raise. I’m not concerned at all about our players using their platform to make a difference.”
Butker is front and center on the Upright Pac website, along with Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who earned the kicker’s endorsement against Democrat Lucas Kunce before the general election.
“Every day we see our values under attack. In our schools, in the media and even from our own government. But we have a chance to fight back and reclaim the traditional values that made this country great,” the Pac said on its website. “We are working to mobilize Christians in this country to ensure we protect these values at the ballot box.
Butker made what he called a “very intentional” foray into politics for the first time in May, when he gave a polarizing speech at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas. The three-time Super Bowl champion said, among other things, that most women who earned college degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having children than working, and that some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies on America’s youth.” ”
Butker also attacked Pride month and Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.
The NFL distanced itself from Butker’s comments and subsequently released a statement saying: “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusivity, which only makes our league stronger.”
At preseason training camp, Butker said he was glad he spoke out. “I just decided, ‘You know what? There are things that I believe in with all my heart that I think will make this world a better place,’ and I’m going to preach that,” Butker said. “If people don’t agree, they don’t agree, but I’m going to keep saying what I think is true and I’ll love everyone along the way.”
The Hunt family has backed a group urging Missouri voters to reject a ballot measure that would overturn a near-total ban on abortion in the state through Unity Hunt, the company that oversees the Lamar family’s assets Hunt. The Chiefs have declined to comment on the $300,000 donation, other than confirming to the Kansas City Star that the money was transferred by Clark Hunt’s half-brother, Lamar Hunt Jr., through his account at Unity Hunt.
Meanwhile, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said last month that he would not support Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in the November election, even as the former president repeatedly referred to the player’s wife, Brittany, as a supporter of his campaign.
“I don’t want my seat and my platform to be used to support any candidate,” Mahomes said. “My job is to inform people that they need to register to vote. It is intended to inform people so they can do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their families.”
Those comments came less than a day after Taylor Swift, who is dating the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and has become friends with the Mahomes family, endorsed Harris for president. That prompted Trump to tell Fox News, “I actually like Mrs. Mahomes a lot better, if you want to know the truth.” She is a big Trump fan. I love Brittany. I think Brittany is great.”
Patrick Mahomes was asked Wednesday about Trump’s references to his wife and said, “At the end of the day, it’s about me and my family and how we treat other people.”
“I think you see Brittany doing a lot in the community. “I do a lot in the community to raise people up and give people the opportunity to use their voices,” he said. “In political times, people will use things here and there, but I cannot allow that to affect the way I do my business every day of my life and try to do it the best I can.”