Harrison Butker (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a surprise decision on how they’ll utilize kicker Harrison Butker for the upcoming 2024 season.
Earlier this offseason, Kansas City Chiefs coaches revealed they were considering using safety Justin Reid for kickoffs following the NFL ’s rule changes. The thinking was that Reid would be a better open-field tackler than Harrison Butker, and that the latter would greatly reduce his risk of injuries without tackling on kickoffs.
But Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave revealed to Jesse Newell of The Kansas City Star that they won’t make a change at the kickoff spot after all. The defending champions decided that Butker is their best guy in that spot, Toub explained.
“Butker’s going to be our main kickoff guy. I mean, hands down,” Toub said. “Because he can move the ball and do a lot of different things. He’s our most talented kickoff guy.”
The NFL changed its kickoff rules as a way to encourage more returns. One of the adjustments includes a rule where if the kickoff team sends the ball into or past the end zone for a touchback, the receiving team will get the ball on their 30-yard line. Previously, they would get the ball at the 25-yard line.
The 29-year-old Harrison Butker is coming off his best statistical season in which he made 94.3 percent of field goal attempts and 100 percent of his extra points (38 for 38). Butker also made all 11 kicks in the postseason and was a perfect 8-for-8 on extra points, helping the Chiefs to their second straight Super Bowl title.
Harrison Butker & Chiefs Aim For Three-Peat
The Chiefs became the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the 2003 and ’04 New England Patriots. Up next, Butker and company will try and become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls.
Kansas City will kick off their bid for a Super Bowl three-peat when they host reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Kickoff Game on Sept. 5.
