Chiefs’ Kicking Struggles with Harrison Butker

The Kansas City Chiefs have faced challenges with their kicking unit this season. Veteran kicker Justin Tucker joined the team for practice to assist Harrison Butker after Butker missed two crucial field goals in a recent loss to the Seattle Seahawks during Week 7.

Butker’s problems persisted in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. He missed a 54-yard field goal with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter while the Chiefs were up 24-21. The Broncos quickly scored on a 56-yard drive, securing a 28-24 victory with that final score.

During the game, Butker made one of two field goal attempts and successfully converted all three extra point attempts. According to ESPN Insights, Butker has missed 16 total kicks since 2025, the most for any kicker in that period. This season alone, he has missed six field goals, marking a career low for him.

Before the Broncos matchup, Butker had achieved a field goal success rate of just 68.8% through the Chiefs’ first six games – potentially the poorest performance in his 10-year career.

After the game, Butker discussed his performance and mentioned he had an excellent week in practice. Video posted by James Palmer of Bleacher Report captured Butker explaining that the missed 54-yard attempt did not come off his foot correctly.

Despite these struggles, Chiefs’ special teams coach Dave Toub expressed confidence in Butker, affirming his position as the team’s kicker. Toub highlighted Butker’s perfect performance in practice, successfully converting all ten field goal attempts on a windy day with 28-mile-an-hour gusts, even with Tucker present.

The Chiefs have now suffered two consecutive losses, with Butker’s kicking difficulties playing a significant role in these outcomes. For further analysis on the Chiefs and broader NFL insights, visit Newsweek Sports.