The Kansas City Chiefs’ organized team activities provided the defending Super Bowl champions with their first opportunity to address Harrison Butker’s controversial speech at Benedectine College earlier this month.
All things considered, the Chiefs played the situation down the middle, expressing support for the kicker’s freedom of speech, without endorsing (or denouncing) his comments, which many have considered to be misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic.
Still, that didn’t stop Andy Reid from using the opportunity to throw some shade at the media. Asked how he would address women in the Chiefs organization who might have concerns about Butker “speaking ill of women,” the three-time Super Bowl-winning head coach replied by taking a not-so-subtle jab at the reporters in the room.
“That hasn’t happened. I don’t think he was speaking ill of women. He has his opinions and we all respect that,” Reid said. “I let you guys in this room and you have a lot of opinions that I don’t like, so…”
When asked a question about Butker’s speech, Andy Reid was absolutely savage in his answer regarding the media members they let in the room 💀 pic.twitter.com/SbBe01eHDM
— how bout those CHIEFS (@hbtCHIEFS) May 22, 2024
Reid’s comments fell right in line with Kansas City’s apparent playbook for the situation, in which both he and superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes defended Butker’s right to express his beliefs without supporting or condemning them. One could certainly argue that considering their high profile positions, the Chiefs — and in particular, Reid, Mahomes and Travis Kelce — have a responsibility to take a stronger stand. But realistically, it’s hardly surprising that an NFL team looking to three-peat as Super Bowl champs would opt for the path that possesses the fewest potential distractions, especially in an offseason that’s already been full of them in Kansas City.
