Harrison Butker has been one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ most dependable players, but his recent performances have raised concerns about the team’s kicking game. After missing two field goals against the New York Jets on November 8, Butker faced boos from the Arrowhead Stadium crowd. Even so, head coach Andy Reid has confirmed that the veteran will remain Kansas City’s kicker for its upcoming road game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Butker’s season statistics help explain the growing frustration. Through eight games, he had made 12 of 19 field-goal attempts, giving him seven misses—the highest total among NFL kickers at that point in the season. He had also missed at least one field goal in four consecutive games.
Speaking to reporters on November 11, Reid said he planned to stick with Butker for the Atlanta game.
“As far as the kicking part goes, I’m going to stick with Butker this week, and we’ll go from there,” Reid said.
Reid also pointed to Butker’s history with the Chiefs and expressed confidence that he could work through a difficult stretch.
“Harrison has done such a great job for us over time. Sometimes you go through these little peaks and valleys. I’m going to give him a chance to work through them, and we’ll see how things go.”
## Two misses against the Jets
Butker’s latest setback came at a difficult moment in the game against New York. With seven seconds left in the first half, he attempted a 56-yard field goal and missed. A defensive offside penalty against the Jets nullified the attempt, however, and moved the Chiefs five yards closer.
Butker then tried again from 51 yards. His second attempt went wide right, prompting a strong reaction from the home crowd as he left the field for halftime.
After the game, Butker acknowledged that he needed to improve but said he still had confidence in his ability.
“I try to be my best on every single kick, and unfortunately, those 50-plus-yarders aren’t going in. But I feel confident. I’m excited for the kicks, and I just have to do better.”
The misses against New York were part of a challenging run. Butker missed a field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6. He made three field goals and missed two against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, then missed another attempt against the Denver Broncos in Week 8. Kansas City lost that game 28–24, with Butker missing a 54-yard kick.
## Justin Tucker adds competition
The Chiefs’ decision to sign Justin Tucker to their practice squad on October 28 has brought additional attention to Butker’s position. Tucker, a five-time first-team All-Pro, has made 89.1% of his career field-goal attempts, the second-highest rate in NFL history. He spent 13 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before the team released him in 2025.
Tucker has not played in an NFL game since the 2024 season. In June 2025, the NFL announced that he would be suspended without pay for the first 10 weeks of that season for violations of the league’s personal conduct policy. The league’s investigation followed allegations from 16 massage therapists at eight Baltimore-area spas, who accused Tucker of improper conduct during massage sessions between 2012 and 2016. Tucker denied the allegations.
For now, Reid’s decision gives Butker another opportunity to regain his form. The 31-year-old has been part of all three of Kansas City’s recent Super Bowl-winning rosters, and his record with the team is a key part of the coach’s stated willingness to give him time to work through the slump.
That decision applies to the upcoming game, but Reid did not rule out further evaluation. His comment, “we’ll go from there,” leaves open the possibility that the Chiefs could reassess the kicking position after the Atlanta matchup. Tucker remains on the practice squad as an alternative.
Butker will have a chance to respond when Kansas City travels to face the Falcons on November 15. Until then, the Chiefs are backing their longtime kicker despite his recent misses and the increased scrutiny surrounding the position.
