Former Chiefs player encourages Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes to sign Super Bowl-winning free-agent kicker
Kansas City coach has defended his veteran kicker despite growing criticism
A kicker who has helped win three Super Bowls would ordinarily have considerable protection against criticism, but Harrison Butker is discovering how quickly expectations can change in Kansas City.
The Chiefs suffered their first defeat of the 2026 NFL season on Sunday, losing 20-3 to the Seattle Seahawks after arriving with a perfect 5-0 record. Their offense failed to score a touchdown, and Butker compounded a frustrating afternoon by missing two of his three field-goal attempts.
The misses, from 58 and 45 yards, immediately generated criticism from former Kansas City players, including one who believes the franchise should consider bringing in a former All-Pro kicker.
Gehrig Dieter , who spent five seasons with the Chiefs, identified an established name currently available on the free-agent market.
"Might be time to sign Justin Tucker," Dieter wrote on X.
Dieter 's suggestion comes with complications. Justin Tucker , a Super Bowl winner with the Baltimore Ravens , was once considered among the most reliable kickers in NFL history, but his final season in Baltimore raised concerns about declining accuracy.
The veteran converted just 22 of 30 field-goal attempts in 2024 before being released in May 2025. He subsequently served a 10-game NFL suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy following sexual misconduct allegations that he denied.
Tucker remains a free agent despite receiving opportunities to work out for several teams, including the Miami Dolphins earlier this month.
Dieter wasn't alone in criticizing Butker . Former Chiefs defensive lineman Shaun Smith offered an even harsher assessment on X. "Leave the kicker in Seattle," Smith wrote.
Andy Reid backs Harrison Butker
Butker admitted that his struggles had started before kickoff and continued throughout the game.
"Warm-up wasn't great. It's just something that you have to roll with and try to fix it in the game and do the best that you can," Butker told reporters.
"Life of a kicker, it either goes in or it doesn't. Unfortunately, there's been some kicks that haven't gone in."
The defeat exposed wider problems for Kansas City, whose offense managed just 213 total yards. Patrick Mahomes threw for 165 yards and an interception, while the Chiefs failed to reach the end zone.
Butker 's mistakes nevertheless attracted particular attention because of his established reputation for delivering in decisive moments.
He famously kicked the winning field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, securing a 38-35 victory and another championship for the franchise.
Head coach Andy Reid emphasized that history when asked about his kicker's recent form.
"Listen, he's been one of the most consistent kickers in football," Reid said. "He's off a bit. So, we've got to fix that."
Reid' s comments indicate that Kansas City intends to address Butker 's problems rather than immediately replace him.
Kansas City's 5-1 record still leaves it in a strong position, but Butker 's accuracy has become an issue the coaching staff can no longer ignore.
