With one of his players organizing a political action committee, Kansas City Chiefs owner and Republican donor Clark Hunt says he has no problem with players speaking out on issues and elections.
“Obviously we have players on both sides of the political spectrum, on both sides of whatever controversial issue you want to bring up,” the Chiefs owner said, as quoted by the Kansas City Star. “I’m not concerned at all about our players using their platform to make a difference for what they believe in.”
No member of the two-time defending Super Bowl champions has exercised that right more than kicker Harrison Butker. He sparked outrage by delivering a polarizing speech at Benedictine College in May and has since thrown his support behind Donald Trump.
“I support the president who will be the most pro-life president,” he said last week at a campaign event in Missouri for U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, who is running against Democrat Lucas Kunce. ‘The subject is the most crucial subject for me. I want us to fight for the most vulnerable, fight for the unborn, and that’s what we need to prioritize.”
Butker recently formed his own political action committee aimed at encouraging Christians to vote.
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid (L) and CEO Clark Hunt (R) present a team helmet to U.S. President Joe Biden during an event on the South Lawn of the White House on May 31
No member of the Chiefs has been as outspoken as kicker Harrison Butker
“We see our values under attack every day,” the PAC website says. ‘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. That is why UPRIGHT PAC was founded.”
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 degrees were likely more excited about getting married and having children, and that some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto America’s youth.”
Butker also attacked Pride month, an important time for the LGBTQ+ community, and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has refrained from making political statements
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.”
“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 when asked about the address during training camp. “If people don’t agree, they don’t agree, but I’m going to keep saying what I believe to be true and I’ll love everyone along the way.”
Hunt has endorsed a number of conservative candidates in recent years, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. His real estate company, Hunt Midwest, has donated much more.
Most recently, there was a $750,000 donation to the Koch family PAC, Americans for Prosperity, as well as $195,800 and $189,200 in donations to the National Republican Congressional and Senatorial Committees, respectively.
Hunt was critical of NFL players protesting racist police brutality in 2017, but never ordered anyone not to do so.
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 his 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.”
Kelce has been quiet on the political front, while girlfriend Taylor Swift is supporting Harris
Donald Trump is a big fan of Patrick Mahomes’ wife Brittany, who has liked his platform online
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 help educate people and give people the opportunity to use their voices,” he said. “In political times, people will use things here and there, but I can’t allow that to affect the way I do my business every day of my life and try to do it the best I can.”
Kelce, meanwhile, has been quiet on the political front as his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, supports Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
NFL owners have traditionally been Republicans. In 2020, OpenSecrets.com revealed that its owners’ political donations went to GOP candidates, 9-1, en route to Trump’s defeat by President Joe Biden.
New England Patriots owner Robert donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, while New York Jets owner Woody Johnson served as Trump’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.