KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With Harrison Butker’s first kick as a Kansas City Chief, fans were on the edge of their seats.
The new kicker had just been signed on Sept. 26, and many were eager to see how he would perform under NFL pressure.
This came after the Chiefs placed former kicker Cairo Santos on injury reserve following their game against the Los Angeles Charges.
Butker’s field goal attempt in the first half of the Monday night game left something to be desired as he narrowly missed the 46-yarder.
But, he redeemed himself in the second half, letting the fans know they have something good. He scored three field goals in the third and fourth quarters, one tying the score, another giving the Chiefs the lead over Washington, and another with just eight seconds to spare in the game.
Butker told the Kansas City Chiefs he didn’t account for the wind correctly on the first kick but used the miss to help him score the next three, including his game-winner.
“I felt confident,” Butker told the Chiefs. “I knew it was going to come down to a field goal at the end. I felt pretty calm and hit the ball well.”
So, where did this guy come from?
According to the Kansas City Chiefs, his story starts at Atlanta’s Westminster School with a tuba.
A freshman on the varsity soccer team, Butker was also active in band.
One of his fellow tuba players happened to be the varsity team kicker, and since he was a senior, he was responsible for finding his replacement.
When he met Butker, he not only sensed the athleticism in him but also a strong work ethic that would be key in his future career.
“He was also my friend, so it was a logical decision to tell him about the opportunity,” Jeff Oser told the Chiefs.
Butker got on the team and was successful enough to play in college for Georgia Tech. From there he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers and signed to their practice squad. Less than two weeks later, he was heading to Chiefs Kingdom for a starting position.
In an Instagram post, Butker wrote, “I’d like to thank the Panthers organization and Panther Nation for the great experience, welcoming me to the NFL and treating me so well. Today I start a new chapter with the @chiefs. I'm very grateful for the opportunity and can't wait to represent Kansas City. Go Chiefs!”
He also tweeted the message:
Today I start a new chapter with the @Chiefs. I'm very grateful for the opportunity and can't wait to represent Kansas City. Go Chiefs! pic.twitter.com/JzUwAejYSh
— Harrison Butker (@buttkicker87) September 26, 2017
Read a summary of Monday night’s game here.
