Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s busy year continued Tuesday with his first-ever political endorsement of Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley’s reelection bid.
Mr. Butker, one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL, made headlines this offseason when he urged young women to consider a path as a mother or homemaker over a career during a commencement speech at Kansas’ Benedictine College.
The speech divided NFL circles, but the 29-year-old has embraced the spotlight by using his newfound platform for political advocacy.
“In a time when our nation is at a crossroads, Senator Hawley stands strong for many of the values that matter most to me and my family,” Mr. Butker wrote in a fundraising email. “He’s not just a Senator; he’s a devout Christian, a family man, and a fighter for so much we hold dear.”
The Republican is running for reelection against Democrat Josh Kunce, an attorney and Marine veteran. The email noted that Mr. Kunce has raised more money during the current campaign.
The Chiefs kicker did not specifically mention his ties to the NFL or the defending Super Bowl champions in the email but described himself as a “3X World Champion.”
Mr. Butker’s conservative values put him at odds with some NFL fans, including some young women who started following the league after pop superstar Taylor Swift began dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Ms. Swift endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris for president last month, but the Chiefs coaches and players have side-stepped questions about potential political divides.
“I understand the person that [Mr. Butker] is, and he’s trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said in May. “And that might not be the same values I have, but at the same time, I’m going to judge him by the character that he shows every single day.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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