Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid have spoken out for the first time about Harrison Butker's faith-based commencement speech, invoking freedom of speech in their answers.
Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have spoken out for the first time since Harrison Butker made his faith-based commencement speech, addressing the controversy surrounding some of Butker's comments.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Mahomes, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, emphasized the importance of open discussion and respecting individual opinions within the team.
"What makes the locker room so cool is you're able to have those discussions and become better and make those decisions for yourself," Mahomes said. "Even though there's vast differences as far as those speeches happening at the same time, you get to talk to guys and get knowledge and you make your own decisions at the end of the day."
Mahomes acknowledged that he had different opinions on some of the comments made by Butker in his speech but emphasized that he judged Butker based on his character.
"I judge him by the character he shows every single day -- that's a good person," Mahomes said. "That's someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family. He wants to make a good impact in society."
Head coach Andy Reid also spoke about the importance of respecting different opinions within the team and emphasized that the Chiefs did not feel the need to address the controversy publicly.
"Everybody's got their own opinion, and that's what's so great about this country. You can share those things and you can work through it. That's what guys do," Reid said.
Reid added that he had not spoken to Butker about the speech, stating that the organization did not feel the need to do so. The Chiefs never released a statement regarding the attacks Butker received when the speech went viral, but the NFL did release a statement reiterating their commitment to inclusion.
Butker's remarks directed at female graduates of Benedictine College, where he told them to embrace their "vocation" as a "homemaker," sparked backlash from many, but others defended his right to express his Christian beliefs.
Mahomes and Reid alluded to the Chiefs' locker room as a place where opinions can be shared and discussions can be had about any topic, regardless of personal beliefs.
"We're a microcosm of life here – different areas, different religions, different races," Reid said. "We all get along, we all respect each other's opinions. And not necessarily do we go by those, but we respect everybody to have a voice. It's the great thing about America, man. …My wish is everybody can kinda follow that."
Mahomes added: "We'll continue to move along and help build each other up to make ourselves better every single day. At the end of the day, we're going to come together as a team, and I think that will help eliminate those distractions outside the building."
The Chiefs' locker room culture seems to foster an environment where players can express their beliefs and have open discussions, even when their opinions differ. Mahomes and Reid's comments underscore the importance of respecting individual beliefs while maintaining a cohesive team environment.
