Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid break their silence on teammate Harrison Butker’s controversial speech

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid broke their silence earlier this month on teammate Harrison Butker’s controversial speech.

Both Reid and Mahomes supported Butker, saying he’s a good person and emphasizing that just because someone has different values ​​than you doesn’t mean you can’t get along.

Butker, in his speech at the Benedictine College graduation ceremony, urged men to “fight against cultural emasculation” and claimed that women are destined to become “housewives.”

Butker’s speech was full of his conservative views, not only on gender roles, but also on abortion and vaccines.

Some called the speech extremely sexist and called for Butker to be punished by the NFL for saying negative things about women.

Mahomes has been a teammate with Butker since 2018 and defended him on Wednesday

‘I have known [Harrison] for seven years and I judge him on the character he shows every day. And that’s a good person,” Mahomes said.

“That’s someone who cares about the people around him, about his family and wants to make a good impact in society,” Mahomes continued.

Reid’s job as head coach is to be diplomatic and keep the locker room as united as possible. Butker’s speech likely isn’t the first time he’s heard about differing views in a team atmosphere.

“Everyone comes from different areas, different religions, different races, and so we all get along, we all respect each other’s opinions,” Reid said.

“It’s a great thing about America, man,” Reid continued. ‘And we are, as I said, just a microcosm of that and my wish is that everyone can follow that a little bit.’

‘I don’t think he spoke ill of women, but he has his opinion and we all respect that. I let (the media) into this room and you have a lot of opinions that I don’t like.”

Butker has been under fire for over a week after some called his speech sexist

During the Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl celebration at the White House, Butker ripped a tie with a pro-life Latin phrase written on it in close proximity to President Joe Biden.

The topic of a national abortion ban in America has increased in the past two years, since a Republican Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States.

Butker’s protest took place last June, as the Chiefs celebrated winning last year’s Super Bowl.

The date for another Kansas City championship celebration at the White House in honor of the San Francisco 49ers victory is expected in the coming months but has not yet been announced.

Butker said he has no plans for another silent protest against the Biden administration’s pro-choice stance, but “a lot of thought” has gone into last year’s message.

Butker is a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most vocal voices among current NFL players opposing President Biden’s policies.