Harrison Butker has been the team’s longstanding kicker and kickoff specialist for the entirety of his NFL career. But going forward, it sounds like he will have a little less responsibility on the team.
The NFL announced some major rule changes to kickoffs for the upcoming 2024-25 season in an attempt to both make kickoffs more safe, but also more easily returnable for the returning team. And that could result in kickers being asked to make more tackles on the play.
Butker has proven to be an excellent kicker despite all of the controversy that has arisen about him in recent months following his convocation speech at Benedictine College. But he isn’t exactly the most physically imposing player on the Chiefs roster to make tackles on a consistent basis.
On Thursday, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub discussed the possibility of having safety Justin Reid, who has experience kicking for the team, as the team’s kickoff specialist. And it sure sounds like he is quite sold on making this decision.
“I’d like to have somebody that is able to make a tackle,” said Toub. “Butker is able to make a tackle, but I really don’t want him making tackles all year long. We watched every play of the XFL and kickers were involved in probably at least 25 to 40 percent of the tackles. We don’t want Butker in that situation, but he will be our kicker.
“Justin (Reid) can kick and cover. He can go down there and make tackles. He’s an extra guy they have to worry about to go down there and tackle. They know he’s a guy they have to block.”
It’s a move that makes sense for the Chiefs if kickers will indeed be asked to make more tackles. Justin Reid is obviously far better in that department. And Harrison Butker is such a valuable field goal kicker that risking his health to make tackles wouldn’t make all that much sense.
