The Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker sent a strong message while addressing students at Benedictine College over the weekend. After Butker’s commencement speech went viral on X, the comments made about his wife, Isabelle Butker, raised some eyebrows.
“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” Butker said. “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.
“I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.
I’m on this stage today, able to be the man that I am, because I have a wife who leans into her vocation.
“I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all 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.”
Butker, who married Isabelle in 2018, deleted all the photos of his wife on Instagram and X. In 2017, after the couple got engaged, the 28-year-old credited Isabelle for making him “a better man,” but the post no longer exists.
Isabelle (née Tehrani) earned degrees in computer science and Spanish from Rhodes College, where she played on the basketball team. During an appearance on “The Unraveled Podcast” in 2022, Isabelle described herself as an “independent” person before reconnecting with Butker in college and committing to Catholicism. The Butkers share two children together.
In his speech, Butker also decried Pride Month and pro-choice Catholics. Outsports’ Cyd Zeigler posted, “Pretty awful to hear an NFL player so proudly tell women to “stay in their lane,” serve their man and make babies. Not to mention comparing Pride month to a ‘deadly sin’ and lobbing bombs at the trans community. Not a fan.”
One fan posted, “I’m incredibly disappointed in Harrison Butker’s commencement speech. I’ve always been a fan of him on the field, but I can’t support this. And while it isn’t the only awful thing he said, if my husband said my life began when I become his wife, I’d commit a violent crime.”
Another fan posted, “I take back every nice thing I’ve ever said about Harrison Butker. Hope he misses all the vital kicks for the chiefs this season. This is absolutely disgusting. To say that a women’s life doesn’t start until she becomes a wife or mother in the year 2024 is INSANE and DELUSIONAL AF.”
Arrowhead Report’s Zach Dimmit wrote, “There is much to be debated here. But no matter what side one might be on.. It is worth noting that not every family has the good fortune to survive with just one breadwinner, let alone one who makes $4 million per year, as Butker does.”
One woman posted, “Butker is beyond tone deaf if he thinks the majority of college students can not only raise a family on a single income but that all women only have an aspiration to be a mom. Glad your wife adopted your faith for a free ride in life. Most dont play a game for millions.”