The Kansas City Chiefs kicker and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback both wore the number 7 on their jerseys. Some supporters are now demanding for the two to share more than just their jersey numbers.
Kaepernick hasn’t registered an NFL stat since 2016, coincidentally the year before Butker joined the league. Since 2017, Butker has become the Chiefs’ primary kicker and has established himself as one of the league’s best at his position.
Many supporters are demanding for action after Butker delivered a controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College last weekend.
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker touched on a lot of political topics during his commencement speech
Butker, who was making a speech at a Catholic college, discussed a number of themes. He spoke out against Pride Month, women in the workplace, President Joe Biden, and abortion. He specifically targeted Biden’s COVID-19 policy, as detailed in an Associated Press piece.
“While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,” he said. “The bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.”
He continued to endorse the notion that a woman’s “most important title” should be “homemaker.”
“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” Butker said. “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 her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
Many religious people have used social media to show their support for Butker and his comments. They say that Butker’s statement was merely an expression of faith, and that he should not be harassed or treated differently because of his beliefs.
Listen to this amazing commencement speech by Harrison Butker 🔥
Our Catholic faith has always been counter-cultural… The world around us says we should keep our beliefs to ourselves whenever they go against the tyranny of diversity, equality and inclusion – pic.twitter.com/5azbgPrhUN
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) May 13, 2024
I just sat and watched 20 minutes, 35 seconds of the Harrison Butker commencement speech and all I can say is I now have a greater appreciation for the young man. He professed his faith, said the hard things, the uncomfortable things just as he said he’d do, unapologetically.
— 🌾 Johnny Coltrane 🌾 (@Chief_Wildcat) May 14, 2024
THIS. IS. POWERFUL.
Catholic Super Bowl Champ Harrison Butker drops TRUTH bombs about courage, faith and leadership.
"Our Catholic faith has always been counter-cultural… The world around us says that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves whenever they go against the… pic.twitter.com/i39wcGBZQ2
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) May 13, 2024
👏 Harrison Butker hits the nail on the head: You cannot be Catholic and pro murder of innocent babies. President Biden's professed Catholic faith goes directly against the church's teaching of upholding the value of EVERY. HUMAN. LIFE. https://t.co/ROGSfYUZkO
— 40 Days for Life (@40daysforlife) May 14, 2024
Colin Kaepernick was “blacklisted” for expressing his political views during the national anthem
Colin Kaepernick was “blacklisted” for voicing his political opinions during the national anthem.
There was no official “blacklist,” but Kaepernick’s final season as a quarterback came when he was only 29 years old. It was only a few years after he led the 49ers to the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens.
In his final NFL season, Kaepernick started 11 games and won only one before being replaced. He had 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Before his final NFL season ended, he rushed for nearly 500 yards and two touchdowns.
The key distinction between Kaepernick’s and Butker’s political expressions is that Butker’s was unrelated to the NFL or the team for which he played. When Kaepernick stated his thoughts, he was dressed in his team’s uniform and immediately before the start of an NFL game.
Butker stated his opinions in a speech unrelated to the NFL, despite the fact that his NFL status was the primary reason he was asked to speak in the first place.
Many fans want Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker to be “blacklisted” like Colin Kaepernick was
Following the viral nature of Butker’s remark, many people rushed to social media to express their belief that there is a double standard for expressing political opinions as an NFL player.
Fans argue that Butker’s “racist,” “homophobic,” “transphobic,” and “mysoginist” remarks should have resulted in his being treated similarly to Kaepernick when he revealed his political opinions.
Harrison Butker can get bent.
They had issue with Kaepernick taking a knee for racial injustice yet this guy is applauded for telling women their degrees aren’t worth anything.
“NFL players shouldn’t be political… unless” pic.twitter.com/2kZfHyDfMx
— angry buni 🤬 (@theangriestbuni) May 14, 2024
Let me understand this, Colin Kaepernick was threatened, blacklisted, condemned for peacefully taking a knee in protest against racial injustice/police brutality, but Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gives a misogynistic, bigoted, homophobic speech and it’s fine? Racism.
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) May 15, 2024
