Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said last week the team was open to trying out safety Justin Reid as their primary kicker on kickoffs this season instead of Harrison Butker. Reid seems excited at getting the new opportunity.
Harrison Butker is getting replaced on kickoffs
As previously discussed on GH, Toub said he wanted to use Reid on kickoffs this season instead of Butker because the Chiefs don’t want their petite kicker getting injured trying to make a tackle:
Toub said Butker could be benched during the majority of the Chiefs’ kickoffs this season. Because of the NFL’s new kickoff rules, Toub wants to put another player on the field to make a tackle. He doesn’t want Butker making too many tackles during the season.
“If you watched the XFL, I watched every play,” Toub said. “I bet kickers were involved at least 25 percent to 40 percent of the tackles, either trying to make a guy bounce back or making the tackle or missing the tackle. We don’t want Butker in that situation.”
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has taken a more masculine approach than Butker, choosing to lift more weights so he’s better prepared to participate in kickoffs this season.
The Kansas City Chiefs special teams unit had a wild week
The Chiefs’ special teams have had a whirlwind week.
A few days after Toubs’ suggestion on benching Butker on kickoffs, during a special team meeting on Thursday, defensive end BJ Thompson suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest. Butker rushed to get medical help from the training staff for Thompson. The Chiefs canceled the rest of their team activities on Thursday and postponed press conferences with players and head coach Andy Reid until Friday.
Justin Reid is working overtime for his new opportunity
Justin Reid was one of the players who talked to the media on Friday. Per Bobby Kownack with the NFL’s website, Justin said he’s working on his kicks outside of practice:
[Justin] told reporters he’s been working with footballs and a tee separate from organized team activities to stay sharp. The next step after an offseason of kicking practice will likely be giving Reid a shot to showcase his abilities in preseason, just as he’s wanted for the past couple years.
Reid has experience as a kicker for the Chiefs. During their Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals in the 2022 season, he helped to fill in for Butker, who suffered an injury during the first half. Reid went 1/2 on extra points and kicked off seven times. Five of those kickoffs were touchbacks.
Reid said he wants to help the Chiefs on special teams this season because he wants to do anything he can to help the team win:
“I would love to because special teams plays a vital role in the game,” Reid said Friday on if he’d like to fulfill the new role. “The game is three phases: offense, defense and special teams. In the Super Bowl, special teams was the difference with us winning and losing. … Special teams makes a humongous difference, and I’m willing to do anything to help us win.”
The more Reid replaces Butker, the less valuable Butker’s job becomes. One unfortunate part of the new kickoff rule is that front offices could further devalue kickers. That’s not Reid’s fault. It’s just business.
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21 Comments
Benched? Devalued? Very interesting use of words. I saw this all as merely a cut back of Butker’s former duties because of the new NFL kicking rules. You know, the ones that have the potential to be more dangerous to kickers, particularly the “petite” ones? What are you actually implying?
This isn’t a story but it is a writer attempting to stoke disharmony !
Butker arguably won the super bowl. Extra points and field goals are his value. Apparently the author doesn’t like Butker. “Petite”? Bet he could kick your butt.
“Petite is normally referred to the feminine gender. How disingenuous can the author of this piece be? I agree with Kent. I’m sure he can kick the author’s butt 😏
Won the Super Bowl??? Ughhhh seriously?? Yeah… nevermind all the ones who actually did all the real work for him to just go kick the ball!!!
I thought this was a cheapshot about “feminine” 6’4″/205# Harrison Butker as opposed to “masculine” 6’1″/188# Justin Tucker. (Per Wikipedia) I’m anxious to see if the bulked up Tucker is anxious to block a 245# linebacker. If you don’t like Butker’s speech just say so. Don’t be sneaky about it.
You are not a sports fan. Simply an antagonist.
My thoughts, exactly! Clearly, the author does not like Butker
This is dumb as you have one of the best kickers in the league. All because he shared his opinion. As an American it is his right..”Freedom of Speech”!
Petite? Bet he’s bigger than you, big guy lol. We can see what side youre on…
Horrible writing. Transparent political piece disguised as “analysis”
Obviously this is not a story but a piece from a person that has the ability to stoke a cultural issue in order to exploit a coaching decision. I wonder when this writer played high school, college or maybe professional football did they ever see their coaches make changes to assignments based on strategy ?
Harrison Butker petite??? Who are you kidding? The guy is 6’4”” he weighs 200 lbs and has a leg of steel! Get you facts straight before write a foolish article like this!
Interesting timing…
Perfect example of a misleading headline for the purpose of a political/cultural agenda, when the truth of this is way far away from the insinuation. The media is horrible.
If they bench Bucker , they can kiss the 3 repeat🏆🏈Good by! It seems like the glue that held them together is breaking apart before they even start🙃🏈!!!!???
You are obviously a complete idiot !!!
! Fake News Snow flake. He’s one of the best kickers in the game. Has helped tremendously in winning 3 Super Bowls and kicked the longest field goal in Super bowl history standing only 6′ 4″ and weighing 205lbs. You are a joke !!!
Clearly!
As is EVERY SINGLE KICKER IN THE NFL
Hey Jim, It was not only sneaky, it was downright sparky Pathetic writer.
Your report was degraded due to your poor diction and biased reporting. It could have been an analysis of some use to sports fans but you chose the low road.