Kansas City Chiefs: Harrison Butker is a new hero for the Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs found an unlikely hero on Monday night when rookie kicker Harrison Butker stepped up and delivered big in primetime.

A bittersweet tale of events led up to the Kansas City Chiefs signing rookie kicker Harrison Butker. It all started with the front office waiving the beloved leader of the special teams in Cairo Santos. After a season ending injury took a blow on Santos, the front office found themselves without a true kicker. Insert Butker, who became an instant Chiefs hero.

Watching Harrison Butker seal a win for the Chiefs against the Redskins was a pleasurable feeling. Having a new kicker creates uncertainty on a franchise, and Butker was able to power through the nerves, and nearly complete all he was asked to do.

Before the fame in Kansas City, Butker had an interesting backstory – one that did not always include the game of football. Butker is not your typical story of a talented prospect making his way to the NFL, as twists and turns led him up to making it to the league. Let’s take a look.

The @buttkicker87 field goal that sealed the win. 🎇 https://t.co/jDYIoTAhvy
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 3, 2017

Westminster Private High School

A young man who did not play football his freshman year at his private high school, became one of the biggest names in football history within the walls of his school. In his first year at Westminster Private High School, Butker used his foot for other uses other than kicking a football – to kick a soccer ball, and to keep a constant rhythm while playing his tuba… What?

Instead of Butker playing on the football fields on the brisk friday nights, Butker was dedicated to his favorite sport in soccer, and his phenomenal tuba play… Until he got his wake up call his sophomore year.

Butker’s peers persuaded him to expand his above average kicking strength, and from then on, the rest was history. For his final three years of high school, Butker was the best kicker to ever go through Westminster High.

Butker was a three year letterman in football due to his star-studded potential kicking a football in high school; which was possibly a given, considering he holds the longest field goal make at his high school (53 yards). After his success in high school, Butker took his talents to the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech. This is where his college career bloomed into something beautiful

Butker’s College Success

At Georgia Tech, Butker started all four years. In his freshman season, Butker started his career the way he finished it – deadly. He had a 98.1% extra point connection percentage (53/54), and a career 71.4% field goal make percentage (10/14).

Butker carried his recent success to his sophomore year, and he stayed nearly automatic for the Yellow Jackets. Although he had a career low 61.4% field goal make percentage, Butker made 65 out of 66 extra points. It seemed when the Yellow Jackets scored a touchdown, 7 points was already on the board before Butker lined up to tack on the extra point.

HIs junior and senior year Butker combined 90/90, or 100% on extra points. Butker did not miss a single extra point during the last half of his college career, let that sink in… Or don’t, it is kind of fun to think about.

He also went 22/28 his final two years on field goals. With these mesmorizing stats, Butker now holds the record for most points scored at Georgia Tech – 337 career points.

First Stop Carolina, Next Stop Kansas City

A 7th round number 15 pick in Carolina, the Panthers’ organization drafted arguably the best kicker in the 2017 draft class. As it always seems to go, the seventh round prospect did not make the official roster, but found himself in a practice squad uniform.