Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel had a clear message for Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who’s facing backlash over controversial comments he made at a commencement speech earlier this month.
On May 11, Harrison Butker spoke to graduating students at Benedictine College, a liberal arts college in Atchison, Kansas. Butker made homophobic, antisemitic, sexist and misogynistic comments during the speech, including a suggestion to the graduating female students that they become “homemakers.”
Butker has faced widespread criticism over his offensive comments. A petition at Change.org calls for the Chiefs to release the veteran kicker, and it’s closing in on 225,000 signatures.
McDaniel was caught off guard with a reporter’s question about Harrison Butker and players openly discussing their beliefs. The third-year HC warned that people in Butker’s situation need to think about the consequences if they decide to express their beliefs:
“You do have to open the eyes of the players to their platform if they’re new to the situation. I think you have to understand what you say…can be fragmented and last with you forever…I really emphasize whatever you’re going to say, you better believe it…(Players) have the freedom of choice, and if they want to go that direction, go right ahead.”
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Butker himself has not addressed the backlash or controversy publicly. Teammate Patrick Mahomes told reporters today that though he doesn’t agree with some of Butker’s statements, the kicker is a “good person.”
Head coach Andy Reid also tried to avoid fueling the controversy, telling reporters that freedom of speech is a special part of the nation.
Mike McDaniel Summed Up Harrison Butker’s Situation Perfectly
The beloved Miami head coach couldn’t have addressed the question about the Butker controversy any better. He stayed away from discussing Butker’s comments and offered an important reminder to players about what can happen when they publicly discuss sensitive topics.
Butker isn’t the first NFL player to receive widespread criticism for making controversial comments on such topics. Look at New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his bizarre endorsements of conspiracy theories and misinformation.
But a person with Butker’s platform simply must keep in mind what can happen when they say too much publicly. Whether he intended to or not, Butker has already lost a large portion of his many fans across the NFL world. All because he didn’t want to keep his beliefs to himself.
