Patrick Mahomes doesn’t agree with Harrison Butker but says kicker is a ‘great person’

Patrick Mahomes says he doesn’t share many of the views of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, but has defended his teammate’s character.

Butker drew criticism this month — and praise from some on the right — after attacking Pride month, working women and abortion rights activists during a speech at Benedictine College.

Mahomes, widely recognized as the best player in the NFL, was asked about Butker’s comments during a Chiefs practice session on Wednesday.

“There are certain things he said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person he is and he’s trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction,” said Mahomes, who has three Super Bowls won. next to Butker, said. “And those may not be the same values ​​as me, but at the same time I’m going to judge him on the character he shows every day. That’s a great person and we will continue and try to help build each other up to make ourselves better every day. But at the end of the day, we come together as a team and I think this will also help eliminate those distractions outside the building.”

Speaking at Benedictine College, Butker told female graduates they had been told the “most diabolical” lies and praised his wife for taking on the “vocation of a housewife.”

On Wednesday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he would not comment on Butker’s views because “we respect each other’s opinions.”

“We are a microcosm of life,” Reid said. “Everyone comes from different areas, different religions, different races. And so we all get along, we all respect each other’s opinions – and we don’t necessarily follow them, but we respect that everyone has a voice. [That’s the] great thing about America. And we are, as I said, just a microcosm of that, and my wish is that everyone can kind of follow that.

Unlike Reid and Mahomes, the NFL has distanced itself from Butker’s views.

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in a personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization,” Jonathan Beane, the league’s chief diversity officer, said last week. “The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusivity, which only makes our league stronger.”

Butker also quoted Taylor Swift’s lyrics during his speech. Swift is in a high-profile relationship with another member of the Chiefs, Travis Kelce. Swift and Kelce have not commented on Butker’s views.

The Chiefs have had some unsavory off-the-field episodes in recent seasons. Reid’s son Britt received a prison sentence after a car accident in which the girl was seriously injured. Britt Reid was later found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding at the time of the accident. Meanwhile, Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice could face legal ramifications for a crash in Dallas this season. Rice was also accused of assaulting a man at a Dallas nightclub. The alleged victim has now said this he doesn’t want to press charges.

Mahomes said he hopes Rice can learn lessons from the past few weeks.

“I think we’re just trying to do what we can to teach him to learn from his mistakes,” Mahomes said. “I mean of course this was a big mistake, but you have to learn from it, make sure it doesn’t happen again and try to do what you can to be the best person you can be in society, not just for yourself, but also for the people around you. And I think he does, but right now we continue to try to do everything we can to get him on the right path so that he can obviously become a great football player, but we want to be a great person. , at.”

The Chiefs won their third Super Bowl in five seasons in February and are expected to challenge for the championship again in 2024.