Mahomes calls Butker ‘a good person’

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he doesn’t agree with all of kicker Harrison Butker’s comments during his recent controversial commencement speech, but considers Butker a close friend and “good person.”

“I’ve known (Butker) for seven years,” Mahomes said. “I judge him by the character he shows every day and that’s a good person. … We’re not always going to agree. He said certain things I don’t agree with.”

During his commencement speech at Benedictine College, Butker referred to Pride Month as an example of the “deadly sins.” He also addressed gender ideologies and said a woman’s most important title is “homemaker.”

Mahomes declined to say exactly which comments of Butker’s he disagreed with but added: “I’ve seen the clips. … That’s his views.”

“It is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” Butker said during his speech to graduates earlier this month. “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.”

Butker also used the speech to criticize President Joe Biden on several issues, including abortion and the COVID-19 pandemic, and questioned Biden’s devotion to Catholicism.

Despite Butker’s comments on Biden, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that he believes Butker will go with the team to the White House on May 31 to celebrate its 2024 Super Bowl victory.

“I didn’t think I need to (address it). We’re a microcosm of life,” Reid said when asked about Butker’s comments. “We all respect each other’s opinions. We all have a voice.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell echoed a similar sentiment at the league meetings in Nashville on Wednesday, saying the league has a “diversity of opinions and thoughts.”

“We have over 3,000 players. We have executives around the league. They have a diversity of opinions and thoughts just like America does. That’s something we treasure,” Goodell said. “We’re not going to go much beyond the statement we made last week.”

A few days after Butker delivered his speech, the NFL released a statement distancing itself from his comments.

“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,” NFL senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer Jonathan Beane said in a statement to The Athletic.

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(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)