Harrison Butker Bio
Harrison Butker is an American professional football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was born on July 14, 1995, in Decatur, Georgia. Butker played college football at the Georgia Institute of Technology and entered the NFL after being selected by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. With an 88.4% career field goal percentage, he ranks among the most accurate kickers in NFL history. Butker has won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs and led the league in scoring during the 2019 season.
Early Life and Background
Harrison Butker was born to Harrison Butker Sr. and Elizabeth Keller Butker in Decatur, Georgia. His mother has worked as a clinical medical physicist at Emory University since 1988. His maternal grandfather, James W. Keller, held faculty positions in oncology at Emory University for 28 years. Butker grew up in Atlanta and attended The Westminster Schools, where he played on the football team after picking up the sport as a sophomore.
Butker was a three-sport athlete at Westminster, competing in basketball, football, and soccer while also serving as a tuba player for the school’s symphonic band. He won three state championships in soccer. Butker broke the school record at the time for a 53-yard field goal. He graduated from Westminster in 2013 before enrolling at Georgia Tech.
Path to American Football
Before focusing entirely on football, Butker initially played soccer at Georgia Tech. He transitioned to football and played for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 2013 through 2016 under head coach Paul Johnson. Butker became the all-time leading scorer in school history, converting 208 of 210 extra point attempts and 43 of 60 field goal attempts. He served as team captain during his senior season and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering.
Harrison Butker Career
Early Career (2017)
The Carolina Panthers selected Butker in the seventh round with the 233rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $2.48 million that included a signing bonus of $83,112. The Panthers waived Butker on September 13, 2017, and signed him to their practice squad the following day.
On September 26, 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Butker off the Panthers’ practice squad. He made his debut during a Week 4 victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football. Butker missed his first career field goal attempt from 46 yards but made his next three attempts, including the game-winner. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors three weeks later against the Denver Broncos after converting five field goals. For the month of October, he was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month. Butker finished his rookie season converting 38 of 42 field goal attempts and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Kansas City Chiefs Breakthrough (2017–Present)
Butker established himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers during his second season with the Chiefs. He signed a five-year extension worth $20.3 million in June 2019 after leading the NFL in scoring with 150 points during the 2019 regular season. He converted 34 of 38 field goals that year and became the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history at that time. Butker won his first Super Bowl in Super Bowl LIV as the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31–20.
During the 2022 season, Butker broke the Chiefs’ franchise record for longest field goal with a 62-yarder against the Buffalo Bills. It was the 15th field goal in NFL history from 62 yards or longer. In the AFC Championship Game that year, he made a 45-yard game-winning field goal to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals and send the Chiefs to Super Bowl LVII. Butker then kicked a 27-yard game-winning field goal with 11 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
During the 2023 season, Butker earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after going 6 for 6 on field goals against the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the season making 33 of 35 attempts with a 94.3% field goal percentage. He made all 12 of his attempts from over 40 yards and did not miss a single extra point attempt for the second time in his career. In Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers, Butker broke two Super Bowl records with a 57-yard field goal and became the fourth kicker in NFL history with three Super Bowl wins.
Kicking Style and Strengths
Butker has built a reputation for clutch performances in high-pressure situations. He ranks fourth in NFL history in career field goal percentage at 88.4%. His career-long field goal is 62 yards. Butker has shown consistency across various game situations and weather conditions. He has accumulated 1,122 career points along with 506 touchbacks through his first seven seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Butker signed a four-year extension worth $25.6 million with the Chiefs in August 2024. When he was placed on injured reserve in November 2024 due to a knee injury, he temporarily moved to first place in all-time field goal percentage at 89.2%. The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LIX that season, though they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the loss, Butker’s contributions across multiple championship runs have cemented his legacy as one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history.
Harrison Butker Career Wins
Butker has accumulated three Super Bowl victories and numerous individual accolades throughout his career with the Chiefs. His consistency and ability to deliver in crucial moments have made him invaluable to one of the NFL’s premier franchises.
Championship Highlights
Butker has been a vital component of the Chiefs’ dynasty, winning Super Bowls LIV, LVII, and LVIII. His game-winning field goals in AFC Championship Games and Super Bowls have defined his legacy. He led the NFL in scoring during the 2019 season and has earned multiple AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors throughout his career.
Individual Records and Honors
Butker ranks fourth in NFL history in career field goal percentage at 88.4%. He holds the Chiefs’ franchise record for longest field goal at 62 yards. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2017 and has been recognized as an alternate Pro Bowl selection.
Harrison Butker Family
Family Background and Education
Butker grew up in Decatur, Georgia, with his parents and an older sister. His family has strong academic ties to Emory University. His mother has worked as a clinical medical physicist at Emory since 1988. His grandfather held faculty positions in oncology at the institution. Butker attended The Westminster Schools in Atlanta before heading to Georgia Tech.
Personal Life
Butker is married and has three children. He is the co-founder, president, and chief operating officer of MDKeller. One of the subsidiaries of MDKeller is Shepherd’s, which specializes in custom menswear.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season presented early challenges for Butker. Through the first five games, he missed five kicks, going 10 of 13 on field goals and 11 of 13 on extra points. His missed field goals came from 40, 56, and 58 yards. He also sent a kickoff out of bounds late in the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite the rough start, Head Coach Andy Reid expressed confidence in Butker, stating he was not worried about him.
Butker responded with improved consistency as the season progressed. He finished the 2025 season converting 33 of 38 field goal attempts and 31 of 35 extra point attempts. The Chiefs remained competitive with Butker handling kicking duties. His ability to work through adversity and maintain performance levels demonstrates his resilience and professionalism. Butker continues to serve as a key contributor for a Chiefs team that expects to contend for championships.