Andy Reid and Mike McDaniel weigh in on Harrison Butker’s speech: ‘We all respect that’

Two NFL coaches are weighing in on a player’s controversial speech as it makes waves across the league.

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gained widespread attention last week after making the headlines. Address at the Catholic liberal arts school Benedictine College. In the speech, the NFL player took aim at President Joe Biden’s policies and encouraged women to embrace becoming “homemakers.”

“Some of you may go on to have successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are more excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” Butker told the graduates of the school . “I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life really began when she began to live her vocation as a wife and mother.”

When asked about Wednesday’s address, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was slow to take on those outraged by the speech.

I don’t think he talked down to women,” Reid said. “He has his opinions and we all respect that. I let you into this room and you have a lot of opinions that I don’t like.”

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also addressed Butker’s speech, saying critics this week have been quick to take his message out of context.

I think you have to open players’ eyes to their platform if they’re new to the situation,” he said. “I think you have to understand that what you say publicly can fragment and stay with you forever.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday that while he doesn’t “necessarily agree” with everything Butker said, he judges his teammate on his “character.”

“And that’s a good person,” Mahomes said. “He’s someone who cares about the people around him, who cares about his family and wants to make a good impact on society.”

The NFL said last week that the views expressed in Butker’s speech “are not those of the NFL as an organization.”

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” said Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice president and director of diversity and inclusion. said. “The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”