Harrison Butker, typically a reliable kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, has struggled this season, which is concerning for coach Andy Reid’s team.

Despite Butker’s recent performance issues, Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid expressed confidence, as per an X post by Carles Goldman, stating,

“I think, like any golfer, sometimes you’re hitting it good, sometimes it’s off, but you work through it.”

Butker didn’t attempt any field goals in the recent 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the Chiefs holding a four-point lead and about two minutes remaining, Butker kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds. This uncharacteristic mistake gave the Jaguars excellent starting field position at the 40-yard line, possibly contributing to the eventual defeat.

Trevor Lawrence then secured the Jaguars’ victory with a thrilling 1-yard touchdown scramble with just 23 seconds remaining. The play was remarkable: Lawrence initially fell after his foot was stepped on, but quickly got up, dodged tacklers, and ran left for the score, sending EverBank Stadium into a celebration.

The Chiefs‘ record now stands at 2-3, representing their weakest start to a season since they began the 2021 campaign at 3-4. Notably, the 2021 season is the only time in the last six years that Kansas City did not advance to the Super Bowl.

Chiefs fans request that Andy Reid replace Harrison Butker with Matthew Wright 

The Chiefs’ commitment to Butker is clear. He’s not just a kicker; he’s one of the league’s most statistically dependable players, and the extension he signed before the 2025 season speaks volumes about the franchise’s trust in him. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub has consistently been Butker’s most vocal defender. By suggesting that recent shanks are due to minor mechanical tweaks. 

However, the miss against Jacksonville is a stark reminder of the NFL’s brutal standard: every kick matters. The Chiefs are essentially betting that a player of Butker’s caliber will eventually correct his course and return to his elite form, making this rough patch a mere footnote in his career. But the fan base is less patient. They see an immediate problem that has direct consequences on the scoreboard, and they have an obvious, available alternative in Matthew Wright.

Matthew Wright presents a genuinely intriguing option for the Kansas City Chiefs, not as a complete outsider but as a familiar, dependable face. He has a track record of working under pressure; if one is to mention an instance, it will be his 59-yard field goal, which was a franchise record at the time. 

But considering what the coach and the team’s coordinator have said, it doesnt look like the chif are making any sort of replacement anytime soon.