Chiefs Retain Harrison Butker as Starting Kicker Amid Tucker Tryout

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub announced the decision after the veteran practice squad addition completed an unblemished 30-kick tryout, while the incumbent responded by drilling every practice attempt in gusty winds.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub confirmed Thursday that Harrison Butker remains the team's starting kicker, maintaining firm confidence in the veteran specialist despite the practice squad addition of Justin Tucker.

The decision follows Kansas City's move Wednesday to sign Tucker after a private workout, adding depth while Butker navigates a slump.

Butker has converted 11 of 16 field goal attempts through seven games this season, missing four kicks across his past four appearances. His recent struggles were highlighted during a 31-28 loss against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 25, when he pulled a 45-yard attempt wide.

Toub addressed the miscue directly during his weekly press availability at the team facility, calling the miss costly in a tight contest. "You've got to make the kicks," Toub said. "The short kicks — that's considered a short kick — you've got to make those in situations where it's a tight game like that."

Despite outside scrutiny, Kansas City remains committed to the specialist who helped deliver three Super Bowl titles. The franchise signed Butker to a four-year contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid kickers in the NFL. "Butker is our kicker," Toub said. "We're trying to get Butker right."

Coaches attribute Butker's inconsistency to minor mechanical flaws and slipping confidence rather than physical decline. Toub pointed to Wednesday's outdoor practice session as proof of resilience. Facing wind gusts reaching 28 miles per hour, Butker drilled all 10 field goal attempts while Tucker watched from the sideline.

"He went 10-for-10 yesterday with Tucker standing right there," Toub said. "On a windy day, it was 28-mile-an-hour gusts yesterday, and he went 10-for-10. And I thought right before out to practice, I was going, 'This poor bastard' ... and he did it."

Kansas City explored the kicking market earlier this week by conducting evaluations for three free agents: Ben Sauls, Harrison Mevis, and Tucker. Toub revealed that Kansas City was the fifth team to evaluate Tucker since the veteran became eligible to sign with an NFL club.

The Chiefs put the kickers through a rigorous 30-kick workout designed to evaluate distance, trajectory, and consistency. The session included extra points, seven kicks from beyond 50 yards, and a successful 60-yard attempt. Tucker converted every kick during the evaluation, demonstrating elite accuracy from distance.

"Not only did he make them, he was accurate. 60 percent of his kicks were inside of a six-foot cylinder in the middle of the uprights. Somebody that's struggling as a kicker is not able to put the ball with that kind of accuracy," Toub said. "So, he was off the charts good. That's the reason why we signed him to the practice squad."

Toub emphasized that Butker and Tucker share longstanding mutual respect, noting the two specialists idolized each other's craft over years of competing as premier specialists in the AFC.

Tucker's arrival in Kansas City marks his return to the NFL following an extended absence. The five-time All-Pro was released by the Baltimore Ravens in May 2025 after spending 13 seasons with the organization. The NFL subsequently suspended Tucker for 10 games without pay for violating its personal conduct policy.

The league discipline followed reporting by The Baltimore Banner detailing allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior from 16 female massage therapists between 2012 and 2016. In February 2025, the outlet reported that seven additional women had come forward with similar allegations.

Tucker has consistently denied the accusations, maintaining that his conduct during all professional sessions remained appropriate. "I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider," Tucker said in a statement. "These claims are simply not true."

The signing has generated criticism across national sports media, with commentators questioning the decision to add the embattled specialist to the roster. Kansas City now prepares for its next AFC West matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Toub reiterated that Butker will handle kicking duties, with Tucker providing insurance on the practice squad.

Source:

OutKick / Fox News October 29, 2026

Associated Press October 29, 2026