The Kansas City Chiefs are set to let kicker Harrison Butker take the field in their Week 9 matchup against the New York Jets, despite the three-time Super Bowl champion's recent spate of poor performances.
Last month, the Chiefs signed veteran boot Justin Tucker to compete with Butker in practice, but Kansas City's coaching staff hasn't yet decided to give the former Baltimore Raven a chance to take his first-in game kicks this season.
During his comments to the media on Thursday, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub explained why Butker is being given so much leeway, telling reporters that the ex-Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket has earned the right to be "exhausted."
Hear Toub's full comments in this video, which was posted to Twitter by KC
Sports Network:
Dave Toub on not making the switch to Justin Tucker at kicker:
— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) November 5, 2026
“Because Butker's our kicker, Butker's on our team, and we're paying Butker. Butker has won a lot of football games for us — Butker is a champion, and he deserves the right to be exhausted on this thing.” pic.twitter.com/aEh2H5vDsc
If Butker continues to struggle when the Chiefs face the Jets at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, expect Toub to face fresh criticism for his controversial decision to stand by the NFL's 2019 scoring leader.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Why won't Chiefs bench controversial K Harrison Butker against Jets?
