Chiefs Star Chris Jones Defends Harrison Butker Amid Backlash, And He’s Not Alone

Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones came to the defense of Harrison Butker amid the backlash his teammate has faced since giving a commencement speech during which he praised his wife for being a “homemaker,” called out President Joe Biden’s support for abortion, and criticized LGBT “Pride month.”

In a Thursday post on X, the Chiefs defensive player reacted to a Change.org petition calling for the three-time Super Bowl champion to be dismissed from the team for his “discriminatory” remarks to graduates at Benedictine College.

“I love you [Harrison Butker]! My brotha,” Jones wrote in a post that has garnered more than 3.4 million views at the time of publication.

And he wasn’t alone. Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, spoke out on Friday to defend Butker. Speaking to Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” Hunt was asked about the Hunt family’s reaction to the attacks against the kicker.

I love you @buttkicker7! My brotha 🫂 https://t.co/sV48gXePHL

— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) May 17, 2024

“Well, I can only speak from my own experience, which is I’ve had the most incredible mom who had the ability to stay home and be with us as kids growing up,” Hunt, 25, said. “And I understand that there are many women out there who can’t make that decision but for me in my life, I know it was really formative in shaping me and my siblings to be who we are.”

She also said that she understood “for sure” what the team’s kicker was talking about when he said that his wife would agree that her life “truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”

“I really respect Harrison and his Christian faith and what he’s accomplished on and off the field,” Gracie concluded.

Clark Hunt’s wife Tavia also appeared to come to Butker’s defense when she shared a lengthy post on social media that included a graphic that read, “Who is Happiest, Married Mothers and Fathers, per the latest General Social Survey.” 

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“Affirming motherhood and praising your wife, as well as highlighting the sacrifice and dedication it takes to be a mother is not bigoted,” Tavia wrote. “It’s empowering to acknowledge that a woman’s hard work in raising children is not in vain.

She also cautioned “taking things or parts of speeches out of context. Sound bites overlaid with hateful comments are not what we want to model for our children or others. We need more dialogue (and values IMO) in this country and less hate.”

College Football Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz also stuck up for Butker, writing on social media, “Thank you [Harrison Butker] for standing strong in your faith values. Your commencement speech at Benedictine College showed courage and conviction and I admire that. Don’t give in.”

During Butker’s speech at the Catholic college, the Chiefs player said, “How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world. But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

“It cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker,” he added.