Patrick Mahomes breaks silence on Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech

Patrick Mahomes has defended the character of Harrison Butker after the Chiefs’ kicker came under fire for comments he made during a recent commencement speech.

Butker spoke at Benedictine College in Kansas last week and was heavily criticized for promoting the idea of women devoting their lives to being mothers and homemakers as opposed to trying to climb the corporate ladder.

“I’ve known him for seven years. I judge him by the character he shows every day, and that’s a good person,” Mahomes told reporters at Chiefs OTAs on Wednesday.

“We’re not always going to agree. He said certain things I don’t agree with.”

Butker spoke about how he and his wife embracing traditional gender roles has benefitted his family.

“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing achievement. You should be proud of all that you have achieved at this point in your young lives,” Butker said in his speech. “I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.

“How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.

“I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and a mother. I am on this stage and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. … It cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because of a girl I met in class back in middle school, convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most-important tiles of all: homemaker.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was also asked about Butker’s speech as he held a press conference during league meetings in Nashville on Wednesday.

“We have over 3,000 players,” Goodell said. “They have diversity of opinions and thoughts just like America does. That’s something we treasure. That’s part of what ultimately makes us as a society better.”

Butker, 28, has been the Chiefs’ kicker since 2017 and has contributed to three Super Bowl championships.