Justin Reid Would 'Love' to Take Part of Harrison Butker's Job

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid is a man of many talents on the field. He’s an exceptional defender in the secondary, but can also kick the ball, giving the Chiefs another weapon to use in the kicking game.

With the NFL changing its kickoff rule this offseason, multiple teams are trying to figure out the best way to maximize their special teams unit. Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub has already been on record saying that the team might remove kicker (Harrison Butker) from the play.

If that’s the case, the next player in line to handle kickoff duties is Reid. Reid gave his thoughts on social media about the potential new role late last month and is excited.

Nonetheless, reporters got an opportunity to ask the veteran safety about getting a chance to handle kickoff duties on Friday, and Reid continued to express his desire.

“I would love to because special teams plays a vital role in the game,” he said (h/t Bobby Kownack of NFL.com). "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."

Reid also told the reporters that he’s been trying to kick every year and enjoys doing it. The Chiefs are familiar with the veteran safety’s kicking skills. He converted one out of two extra points and averaged 63.6 yards per kickoff (seven kickoffs) in Week 1 of the 2022 season against the Arizona Cardinals for an injured Butker. 

With placekickers being more exposed and having to tackle, the Chiefs likely don’t want to lose Butker to an injury and would rather have a kickoff specialist such as Reid. It will be fun to see how Reid performs in the preseason as the Chiefs will get their first taste of the new kickoff rules in live action.

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