Super Bowl-winning Chiefs player Harrison Butker told college graduates to prioritize having a family over pursuing a career during a commencement address on Saturday.
The Kansas City kicker spoke to graduates at Georgia Tech, telling them to “get married and start a family,” Yahoo.com reported. He told them the most important ring he wears is his wedding ring, not his Super Bowl one.
“This is the most important ring I have right here,” Butker said as he gestured toward his wedding band. “In the end, no matter how much money you attain, none of it will matter if you are alone and devoid of purpose.”
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Two-time Super Bowl Champion, Kansas City #Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gives a graduating class a SUPER POWERFUL speech:
“In the end— no matter how much money you attain— none of it will matter if you are alone and devoid of purpose… I can offer one controversial antidote… pic.twitter.com/g9MYOPjrH1
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 9, 2023
“My confidence as a husband and father, and yes, even as a football player is rooted in my marriage with my wife, as we leave our mark on future generations by the children we bring into the world,” he added. “How much greater of a legacy can anyone leave than that?”
“Sadly, we are encouraged to live our lives for ourselves, to move from one thing to another with no long-term commitment,” the NFL player continued. “To have loyalty for nothing but ourselves and sacrifice only when it suits our own interests. This loneliness is rooted in the lies being sold about self dependence and prioritizing our career over important relationships.”
Butker — who played for Georgia Tech in college — joined the Chiefs in 2017 and has since made 164 field goals and won two Super Bowl rings with the team. He married his wife, Isabelle, in February 2018, and they share two kids together, People magazine noted.
Butker’s teammate, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, has also spoken about the importance of his family, as previously reported.
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“To my wife Brittany, my baby girl Sterling and my son Bronze, this crazy life that we are living means nothing without y’all,” Mahomes said. “Keeping me balanced and making me appreciate every single day.”
“No matter how I feel coming home, y’all bring me joy and make me appreciate the time I get to spend with y’all,” he added. “Thank you for always being there for me through my good times and my bad. Love y’all.”