Kansas City Chiefs Address Harrison Butker's Technical Struggles Ahead Baltimore Game

Harrison Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs' highly paid kicker, has struggled with accuracy early in the 2025 season, missing several critical field goals and extra points despite demonstrating a strong leg with multiple long-distance makes. Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub attributes Butker's issues to a small technical problem related to ball contact and rotation rather than physical injury, emphasizing a need to practice smarter by focusing more on shorter, precise kicks rather than volume or long attempts. Toub's plan involves stripping back to fundamentals, reviewing tape, and rebuilding Butker's confidence, aiming to end this rare slump and restore his reliability for close games. Despite Butker’s uncharacteristic misses, including crucial extra points that have shifted momentum against the Chargers and Giants, the coaching staff remains optimistic that these are fixable mechanical issues rather than a sign of long-term decline. Fans have expressed concern about the impact of continuous long kick practice possibly contributing to Butker’s struggles, but the Chiefs are adjusting practice routines accordingly. The team hopes that this focused approach will help Butker return to the consistency expected from a key member of their championship core.