Harrison Butker Now the Highest-Paid Kicker in the NFL Following Contract Extension with Kansas City Chiefs

Butker and the Super Bowl LVIII-winning team have agreed to a four-year, $25.6 million contract extension, which includes $17.8 million in guaranteed money

Harrison Butker attends the 2024 ESPY Awards on July 11, 2024 . Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty

Harrison Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs player whose controversial off-season comments at a May commencement speech drew widespread outrage, is now the NFL’s highest-paid kicker.

On Monday, Aug. 5, the 29-year-old agreed to a four-year, $25.6 million contract extension with the Chiefs which includes $17.8 million in guaranteed money, NFL.com and The Athletic reported.

“There’s no place I’d rather be than with the Chiefs, excited to finalize a 4 year extension,” Butker wrote on X. “To the Heights!”

On the cusp of entering his eighth year in the league, Butker has been a solid part of the team’s offense. Over seven seasons, he has made 89.1% of his field goal attempts and 94.5% of his point-after kicks, per NFL.com.

During last season’s Super Bowl bid — which culminated in the Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers — Butker made all of his 11 field goals, including the 57-yard kick that won the Chiefs the championship.

But Butker’s off-the-field activity has landed the Georgia Tech product in hot water.

In a speech at the graduation ceremony at Benedictine College on Saturday, May 11, the athlete took aim at the LGBTQ+ community, working women, abortion rights and more, drawing heavy criticism — even from the NFL.

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, told PEOPLE in a written statement at the time. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

Harrison Butker at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, 2024.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

In July, the father of three attended the 2024 ESPY Awards and walked the red carpet, but did not stop to talk with the media. Inside the Dolby Theatre, he was the butt of a joke from host Serena Williams, her sister, Venus, and Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson.

After sharing some of the year’s highlights, Venus told the audience: “So go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sport.”

Serena added, “Except you, Harrison Butker, we don’t need you.” To which Brunson then deadpanned: “At all, like, ever.”