Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker, Brother Knight Who Puts Faith First
- Sat, Oct 24, 2026 7:45 AM
Harrison Butker at Chiefs training camp in St Joseph, Missouri. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Lunn, via DVIDS (public domain).
Football fans know Harrison Butker as the reliable right foot of the Kansas City Chiefs. The three-time Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII and LVIII) set a Super Bowl record with a 57-yard field goal in February 2024. What many fans may not know is that he is also a brother Knight.
Butker joined the Knights of Columbus as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech and has been a member since 2015. When he kicked a game-winning field goal in his first career game with the Chiefs in 2017, the Supreme Council congratulated "brother Knight Harrison Butker, member of Council 14496," the Georgia Tech college council. Today kofc.org features him as a member and college council alumnus.
His return to the faith began in college. A teammate, punter Grant Aasen, pointed him to the Catholic Center on campus, where the chaplain answered his questions. "My conversion, my reconversion back to the faith, really started with the sacrament of reconciliation," Butker said. Both friends went on to join the Knights, and Aasen later served as best man at Butker's wedding. Their story is told in the Knights of Columbus video series "Everyday Heroes." You can watch it on the Knights of Columbus YouTube channel: "NFL Super Bowl Champion Harrison Butker Finds Catholic Faith, Friendship" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRFqqP5D0_Q
"I really enjoy the fraternal aspect of these Catholic men coming together," Butker said. "These are all a bunch of Catholic guys trying to live out their vocations. To have that to unite us, I think creates a lot of great friendships and bonds."
In 2020 he spoke to the Order's 55th annual College Councils Conference. He told the young Knights that the morning after winning the Super Bowl, he still had to take out the garbage. "The greatest impact that I will make with my time on this earth is remaining dedicated to my primary vocation, helping my family get to heaven," he said. He challenged them to show "what a Christ-centered life looks like put into practice," and added, "Men need to play active roles within our Church, and I believe being a Knight is a great start."
Butker lives that faith at home and on the road. He has served at the altar at Mass, and during the season priests celebrate Mass for him the night before away games. Each evening he leads his wife, Isabelle, and their children in the rosary, and the children are learning their prayers.
Brothers, his witness is a reminder that every Catholic man, whether he plays on Sunday or sits in the pew, is called to live his vocation with conviction and joy. If you know a Catholic man who is looking for that kind of brotherhood, invite him to join us at kofc.org/joinus.
Vivat Jesus!