Dave Toub asserts Chiefs might ‘bench’ Harrison Butker for kickoffs due to a specific reason amid his controversial speech saga

David Toub revealed that the Chiefs don't want to take chance with Harrison Butker picking up an injury during the kickoff because of the new rules.

Dave Toub asserts Chiefs might ‘bench’ Harrison Butker for kickoffs due to a specific reason amid his controversial speech saga

The Chiefs ponder on not using Harrison Butker during kick offs (Image via IMAGO)

Kansas City Chiefs have pondered taking kicker Harrison Butker off from the Kickoff duties in the upcoming season. Special Teams Co-ordinator David Toub discussed the idea with the other coaches and he seems it would be a positive move after the monumental rule change for the kickoff.

Toub spoke with the reporters on Thursday after the Chiefs’ practice. He revealed watching batches of XFL games that have come in handy for research.

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We watched every XFL play. I bet kickers were involved in probably at least 25 to 40% of the tackles, you know, either trying to make a guy bounce back or making the tackle itself or just missing the tackle.
David Toub told the reporters

The new kickoff rules, per Yahoo Sports Jori Epstein, implemented in March, dictate that any ball kicked into the ‘landing zone’ from the goal line to the 20-yard line, must be returned. It basically nullifies ‘no-fair catches.’ Balls that bounce from the landing zone and end up in the goal have to be returned or downed for a touchback.

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No coach would want their star kicker, in the Chiefs’ case, Harrison Butker, to use his body while stopping the returner. By doing so, he would increase the risk of picking up an injury because, unlike other players, kickers don’t wear adequate gear for a collision.

Many would point out the apparent demotion of Butker due to his controversial statements earlier in May. That’s not the case, even though the reigning Super Bowl winners are the ones to first voice this suggestion.

Who can the Chiefs use as an alternative to Harrison Butker during kickoffs?

The inside word is that the Chiefs could replace Harrison Butker with Justin Reid. The veteran safety, with six years of experience and a couple of Super Bowls under his belt, could be the one seen handling the kickoff duties.

Dave Toub asserts Chiefs might 'bench' Harrison Butker for kickoffs due to a specific reason amid his controversial speech saga
From left: Chris Jones, Justin Reid, Harrison Butker, and Travis Kelce (Image via IMAGO)

The Chiefs’ kingdom may remember Reid filling in as a kicker after Butker injured himself in the Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals in the 2022-23 season. He conjured up seven kickoffs with 5 touchbacks and two extra points.

Toub claimed that Reid can make the kickoff coverage better compared to Butker. Not only does he have the physicality of being a Safety, he can also track back quickly. 

Justin can cover. [I mean], he could kick, he can, and then he can go down there and make tackles. a guy like Justin is a guy that they have to worry about.
Dave Toub said

Reid is definitely a luxury to have in a situation like this. Butker’s limited participation during kickoff would enable him to be fresh for the crunch moment of a field goal. He dispatched 33 field goals from 35 attempts, adding 137 points in the regular season. And then in the Super Bowl, Butker set the record for the longest field goal (57 yards) to beat the San Francisco 49ers.

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