In a statement to CBS News, the NFL has distanced itself from remarks made by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address at Benedictine College. The league also made clear Butker was speaking in a personal capacity, and not representative of the league, when he addressed the graduates.
Butker received notable public pushback for comments expressing a belief that the main role in society for women is as homemakers and condemning the LGBTQ+ community and “dangerous gender ideologies,” among other comments that took aim at abortion, President Joe Biden’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, and various other hot-button topics.
While the NFL didn’t touch on any specific issues raised by Butker in his speech, the league made it clear that it does not share the same outlook.
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” said Jonathan Beane, the chief diversity and inclusion officer at the NFL. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
While Butker’s roster spot with the Kansas City Chiefs is not likely to be affected by his choice of remarks at a commencement address, some folks angered by his comments have begun a petition — which is close to 100,000 signatures — for the Chiefs to release him.
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