Kickin’ it With the Chiefs

Kickin’ it With the Chiefs – Nicknamed “Butt Kicker” by his teammates, Harrison Butker is entering his third year as both an NFL player, and Kansas City Chief, this season.

What a first two years it has been for the ever-reliable Butker!

Since his relegation to the Carolina Panthers practice squad, after being drafted in the 7th round (223rd overall) his 2017 rookie year, Butker has had quite the journey so far in his career.

After being signed by the Chiefs in September 0f 2017, Butker made an immediate impact by converting a game-winning field goal in his debut against the Washington Redskins.  During his first month as an NFL kicker, the young kicker set two NFL records, most field goals in a month for a rookie kicker, and only player to make five field goals in multiple games of their rookie season.

By seasons’ end, Butker also set the NFL record for most field goals made by a rookie with 38.

He certainly gained Chiefs head coach Andy Reid’s confidence in his rookie season.

“He kind of gives you that feeling that everything’s going to be OK,” the coach quipped when Butker missed the first field-goal.

With just two years under his belt in the league, Butker also already holds multiple Chiefs franchise records:

• • Most field goals made, season: 38 (2017)
  • Most field goals attempted by a rookie: 42
  • Most field goals made in their first two seasons: 62
  • Most points by a rookie: 142
  • Most points by a kicker, season: 142 (2017)
  • Most points by a player in first two seasons: 279
  • Highest field goal percentage by a rookie (min. 20 attempts): 90.5
  • Most games, 2+ field goals made, season (tied with other 3 players): 10 (2017)
  • Most games, 3+ field goals made, season: 8 (2017)
  • Most games, 4+ field goals made, season: 4 (2017)
  • Most games, 5+ field goals made, season: 3 (2017)

The sure-footed number 7 also earned 2017 All-Time Rookie Team honors.

This should surprise no one.  During his college career at Georgia Tech, Butker is the all-time leading scorer in school history, with 208-of-210 extra-point attempts and 43-of-60 field-goal attempts converted.

As a Chief, Butker, 25, has converted 62 of 69 career field goals.  His field goal percentage is a healthy 89.9%, and his extra-point average and even healthier 95.9%.

He set two more Chiefs records last year, also:

• • Most extra points attempted, season: 69 (2018)
  • Most extra points made, season: 65 (2018)

Butker has accumulated 279 total points in just 29 games. His kickoffs last year also resulted in 62.10%.

It was Butker’s last-minute 39-yard field goal in the waning minutes of last season’s AFC Championship that sent the team into overtime with the Super Bowl-winning Patriots.

The Red and Gold rewarded their sure-footed kicker with a five-year extension worth $20.3 million in June of this year.

While kickers are sometimes the butt of jokes on many teams, we cannot overstate their importance in the NFL. Placekickers in the NFL account for 30% of the scoring in the game today.

With the success of the Chief’s revamped defense uncertain before the start of this season and opposing defenses determined to limit the success of last years’ explosive Chiefs offense, it is comforting to know that we have a proven Butt Kicker handling kickoff, field goal, and extra point duties.

Bonus Fun Fact:  Butker attended The Westminster Schools in Atlanta GA, where he was a three-sport athlete (basketball, football, soccer).  During his time on the soccer team, the Wildcats won three state championships.

Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne

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