NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s proper to an opinion amid backlash of his controversial graduation speech at Benedictine Faculty on Could 11.
By way of NFL Insider Tom Pelissero:
“Now we have over 3,000 gamers. Now we have executives across the league. They’ve variety of opinions and ideas identical to America does. That’s one thing we treasure,” Goodell mentioned in a press convention at Wednesday’s Spring Assembly in Nashville.
Final week, the NFL distanced itself from Butker’s speech, releasing a press release that “his views usually are not these of the NFL as a corporation.”
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his private capability,” Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vp and chief variety and inclusion officer, mentioned in a press release. “His views usually are not these of the NFL as a corporation. The NFL is steadfast in our dedication to inclusion, which solely makes our league stronger.”
In his speech, Butker advised the ladies graduates that they “have had essentially the most diabolical lies” advised to them.
“A few of chances are you’ll go on to steer profitable careers on the planet, however I might enterprise to guess that almost all of you might be most enthusiastic about your marriage and the youngsters you’ll convey into this world,” he mentioned. “I can let you know that my stunning spouse, Isabelle, can be the primary to say that her life actually began when she started residing her vocation as a spouse and as a mom.”
And his speech wasn’t restricted to girls being homemakers. He additionally expressed his disapproval of homosexuality, calling it “a lethal sin form of pleasure that has a month devoted to it. He additionally took digs at President Joe Biden’s administration.
Butker, 28, has been a kicker within the NFL since 2017. He led the leagues in area objective makes an attempt (38) and made (34) in 2019. In seven seasons, he’s 192-for-221 in area objective makes an attempt, an 89.1% success fee.