Laura Rutledge reacts to Harrison Butker’s graduation speech

ESPN and SEC Network host Laura Rutledge is the latest to react to Harrison Butker’s commencement address at Benedictine College.

“Certainly, everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” Rutledge said to Courtney Cronin during a recent broadcast of NFL Live. “Courtney, I would just say my opinion is it’s really great that you and I get to be women with careers.”

The Kansas City Chiefs kicker’s address at Benedictine, a private Catholic school in Atchison, Kansas, has drawn plenty of criticism.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes spoke in generalities regarding the speech.

“I know Harrison,” Mahomes said. “I’ve known him for seven years and I judge him by the character that he shows every single day, and that’s a good person. That’s someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family, and he wants to make a good impact in society. When you’re in the locker room, there’s a lot of people from a lot of different areas of life and they have a lot of different views on everything.

“And we’re not always going to agree, and there are certain things that he said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person that he is, and he’s trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction. And that may not be the same values as I have, but at the same time, I’m going to judge him by the character that he shows every single day.”

At issue is Butker’s comments directed at the women who were graduating.

Below are his comments in full context:

“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.

“I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother. I’m on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.

“She is a primary educator to our children. She is the one who ensures I never let football or my business become a distraction from that of a husband and father. She is the person that knows me best at my core, and it is through our marriage that, Lord willing, we will both attain salvation.

“I say all of this to you because I have seen it firsthand how much happier someone can be when they disregard the outside noise and move closer and closer to God’s will in their life. Isabelle’s dream of having a career might not have come true, but if you asked her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud, without hesitation, and say, ‘Heck, No.’”