Alright, let’s just cut to the chase. Somebody has to say it. We’ve all been thinking it, whispering it in group chats, and screaming it at our TVs after another kick sails wide right. Is it time to have a serious, and I mean SERIOUS, conversation about Harrison Butker?

I know, I know. Blasphemy, right? This is “Butt Kicker,” the man with ice in his veins, the hero of countless clutch moments. The guy is a Chiefs legend. But this is the NFL, folks. It’s a “what have you done for me lately” league, and lately, the answer for Butker has been… shaky. And in a season where the Chiefs have already dropped two games by a combined nine points, “shaky” doesn’t cut it. Every single point is precious cargo on the road back to the Super Bowl.

The Cracks Are Starting to Show

Let’s not pretend we haven’t seen it. The misses are starting to pile up in ways that just feel… different. We’re not just talking about missing from 60+ yards out. We’re talking about a badly hooked 40-yarder against the Giants. We’re talking about missed extra points! These are the kicks you expect an elite, top-5-in-the-league kicker to make in his sleep.

The folks over at Arrowhead Pride raised the question in their mailbag this week, and it’s a valid one. Fans are getting nervous, and they have every right to be. Butker has already attempted five field goals of over 50 yards this season. He’s only hit three. That’s a 60% clip. For his career, he’s at 66% from that distance. It might not sound like a huge drop-off, but when you’re on pace for a career-high 55 attempts, those percentage points start to look like wins and losses.

Excuses or Reality?

So what’s the deal? We’ve heard the theories. In the offseason, Butker talked about tweaking his kicking motion. Is that tinkering to blame? Has the new kickoff rule, which demands more strategic placement and less mindless touchbacks, taken away valuable practice reps from his field goal craft?

Maybe. Or maybe, just maybe, we’re seeing the inevitable erosion that happens to even the greatest specialists in this league. Kickers are creatures of habit, and right now, Butker’s habits look… off. His rhythm seems disrupted. The confidence that radiated off him for years now feels just a little bit dimmer.

The Cold Hard Truth

Here’s the bottom line: The Kansas City Chiefs’ margin for error is thinner than it’s been in years. They clawed their way back to 2-2 after a disastrous 0-2 start. They can’t afford to leave points on the field because of kicking woes. They can’t go into a hostile environment for a must-win game holding their breath on a 45-yard field goal.

Brett Veach has proven time and time again that he is not afraid to make the ruthless move if it improves the team. He traded away Tyreek Hill, for crying out loud! Is it really that unthinkable that he would at least bring in some competition? Stash a young, hungry leg on the practice squad? Send a message that the status quo isn’t good enough?

Loyalty is a fine sentiment, but banners are forever. Butker has cemented his place in Chiefs lore, but that doesn’t make him immune to the pressures of today. This isn’t about disrespecting a legend; it’s about ensuring the next chapter of this dynasty gets written.

The Chiefs have a legitimate shot to get back to the big dance, but they have to be firing on all cylinders. Right now, the special teams unit feels like a sputtering engine. And that, my friends, is a conversation that can’t be ignored any longer.