Chiefs Keep Butker as Kicker Despite Tucker Signing

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub stated on Thursday that Harrison Butker remains the team's preferred kicker. This clarification came one day after the Chiefs signed five-time All-Pro Justin Tucker to their practice squad.

Tucker joined the team after spending a season out of the NFL. He had served a 10-game suspension in 2025 for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The Baltimore Ravens released him after a local paper reported he was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists at high-end spas. Tucker described those allegations as unequivocally false and tabloid fodder.

The Chiefs evaluated Ben Sauls and Harrison Mevis before choosing Tucker. The team intended for Tucker to provide competition and serve as a sounding board for Butker. Butker has missed 15 kicks since the start of last season, the highest number in the NFL for that period.

Toub explained that the goal is to fix Butker's issues. He noted that Tucker dealt with mental pressures and missed kicks in 2023 and 2024. Toub said Tucker is currently kicking well and that the two players discussed technique and handling pressure as professionals.

Butker has missed five field-goal attempts this season. He is tied with the Green Bay Packers' Trey Smack for the most misses in the league. He also missed one extra point.

During a 20-3 loss to Seattle last Sunday, Butker missed a 58-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. That miss would have cut the deficit to 10-3. He later missed a 45-yard attempt wide right with 8 1/2 minutes remaining. That miss would have made the score 13-6. Seattle subsequently drove 65 yards for a touchdown to secure the victory.

Toub said Butker was trying to be too accurate on the first miss. This caution prevented him from applying full power. On the second miss, Toub suggested pressure from the left side contributed to the ball going wide of the uprights. He called it a bad miss that contributed to the decision to bring Tucker into the building.

Toub stated that every position requires competition and the practice squad lacked that depth for kickers. The team worked out three kickers before signing Tucker. Toub added that Tucker was his fifth tryout and that he was hitting the ball great. Tucker's tryout in Kansas City included 30 kicks, 10 extra points, and seven attempts over 50 yards. His longest successful kick was 60 yards. Toub described Tucker's accuracy as off-the-charts good.

The Chiefs do not plan to bench Butker, one of the highest-paid kickers in the NFL. They believe he can overcome technique issues and a lapse in confidence. During a windy practice on Wednesday, Butker made all 10 of his kicks with Tucker standing behind him. Toub said the team will continue to work on the issue and kick again on Thursday.

The Chiefs travel to Denver for their game on Sunday.