Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed on Wednesday that Harrison Butker will retain his role as the team's primary kicker for the upcoming Sunday matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The decision comes as the Chiefs prepare to face the Falcons, a game that will serve as a test for Butker's recent performance.
Reid expressed his confidence in the veteran, stating, "I'm going to stick with Butker. We'll go from there." This announcement resolves speculation that had built up following last week's contest against the New York Jets, where Butker missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. That miss contributed to a 35-12 victory for Kansas City but resulted in audible booing from fans in the stands.
The 10-year veteran is currently leading the National Football League in missed field goals with seven this season. His struggles are part of a broader trend of inconsistency that has persisted since the start of the previous campaign. Over that span, Butker has missed 17 total kicks, comprising 12 field goal attempts and five extra point tries. These numbers represent the highest total for any kicker during that specific timeframe.
Following the Jets game, Reid indicated that he had not yet decided between Butker and Justin Tucker, a veteran who was signed to the practice squad last month. However, Wednesday's update signals that the coaching staff remains loyal to its longtime kicker. Reid emphasized that Butker has provided significant value to the franchise over the years and noted that players often experience natural peaks and valleys in their careers.
"Harrison has done such a great job for us over time here," Reid explained on Wednesday. "Sometimes you go through these little peaks and valleys things. I've got to give him a chance to work through them and we'll see how things go. We'll just take it week by week."
Butker, who has been a key figure in the Chiefs' three Super Bowl wins over the past five years, expressed his own determination to improve. He acknowledged the repetitive nature of his public statements regarding his performance but remained motivated by the support of his teammates. "I feel confident, I'm excited for the kicks and I've just got to do better," Butker said after the game against the Jets. "Guys support me. They've seen what I've done in my 10 seasons and they want me to be at my best."
The presence of Justin Tucker adds a layer of complexity to the decision. Tucker, who is 37 years old, has not played in an NFL game since 2024. He spent last season serving a 10-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. According to a February 2025 report by The Baltimore Banner, Tucker was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists from eight spas in the Baltimore area. The alleged incidents reportedly took place between 2012 and 2016 during his first five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens released Tucker in May 2025, and the NFL suspended him two months later. In November of that year, after becoming eligible for reinstatement, Tucker participated in his first tryout with the New Orleans Saints. Despite these recent events, the Chiefs signed him to their practice squad two weeks ago to provide depth.
In practice last week, Butker received the majority of the kicking reps compared to Tucker. Dave Toub, the Chiefs' longtime special teams coordinator, stated that the staff is confident in Butker's ability to correct his technical issues. Toub described the process as exhaustive, involving game-like scenarios and difficult kicks designed to address specific weaknesses. "We're not just going to pull the plug," Toub said, highlighting the team's commitment to helping Butker succeed.
