Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid dismisses major Harrison Butker concerns in 2025 NFL season with a golf analogy
Chiefs HC Andy Reid isn’t sounding the alarm on Harrison Butker quite yet.
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is in a bit of a kicking slump to start the 2025 NFL season, failing to be his usual consistent self, which earned him a record contract extension in 2024.
It’s not just one specific issue causing the struggles for Butker, according to Chiefs STC Dave Toub. That checks out, given that he’s had mistakes in every possible kicking phase, whether it’s field goals, point-after-tries (PATs), or kickoffs. One week it’s a missed field goal, another week it’s a missed PAT, and in Week 5’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, it was a costly kick out of bounds on a kickoff.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid was asked on Wednesday what he makes of Butker’s struggles so far. He had what he felt was an apt comparison.
“Yeah, I think, like any golfer, right? You guys have all golfed, and sometimes you’re hitting it good, and other times it’s off, but you work through it,” Reid explained. “You keep swinging, man. And he’ll do that. He’s a talented kid, tough, mentally tough. I’m not really worried about him.”
When you’ve got iron-striking issues in golf, it usually does come down to some sort of fundamental setup issue. We do know that Butker made some adjustments this offseason to his approach to field goals and PATs, stopping his habit of collapsing on his left leg when he made his kicks. Could that be at the root of his problems? Fans will undoubtedly hear more from Coach Toub when he speaks to the media on Thursday.
Do the Chiefs have a Harrison Butker problem to be concerned about?
Butker has attempted 13 field goals this season, making 10 of them. His 76.9% field goal make percentage ranks 24th in the NFL. Two of his misses have come in the 50+ yard range, but his long field goal of the season is 59 yards. Butker also has two missed extra points on 13 attempts this year, which puts him at a league-worst 84.6% extra point make percentage.
Breakdown of Chiefs K Harrison Butker’s 2025 NFL season mistakes:
- Week 1: Butker missed an extra point in the third quarter.
- Week 2: Butker missed a 58-yard field goal wide right in the first quarter.
- Week 3: Butker missed a 40-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter and missed an extra point in the fourth quarter.
- Week 4: Butker missed a 56-yard field goal wide right just before the half.
- Week 5: Butker kicked the ball out of bounds on a kickoff with under two minutes to go, setting up the Jaguars at the 40-yard line.
The primary concern with the deep misses is the introduction of new kicking balls, which are adding approximately five yards of range to each kick in the NFL this season. His misses, of course, haven’t been an issue of distance, but an issue of accuracy.
Ultimately, while it’s not a good start for Butker, there’s no reason he can’t get things turned around. It’s all about stacking a few good performances and rebuilding the consistency he’s been known for.
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