Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Taub announced on Thursday that Harrison Butker remains the team’s primary kicker, despite the practice squad acquisition of veteran Justin Tucker. The 31-year-old Butker is expected to handle kicking duties Sunday against the Denver Broncos with the AFC West lead at stake, according to ESPN reporting.
Butker Prepares for Denver After Seattle Struggles
The decision to keep Butker as the starter follows a difficult outing against the Seattle Seahawks, where he missed field goals from 58 and 45 yards in a loss. Butker has converted 11 of 16 field goal attempts this season, leaving his accuracy mark at 68.8 percent. Speaking after the Seattle game, Butker noted that his warmups felt off before the opening whistle, with his 58-yard attempt falling short and his late 45-yard try drifting wide right. He maintained that leg strength is not the underlying issue, explaining that his best results come when his mechanics are fluid rather than forced.
Windy Practice Sessions and Tucker’s Arrival
Taub detailed a Wednesday practice session where Butker successfully connected on all 10 kicks under 28-mph wind gusts while Tucker observed. The two specialists used the session to discuss kicking mechanics and exchange technical feedback. The Chiefs brought in Tucker alongside Harrison Mevis and Ben Soles for workouts on Tuesday. Taub reported that the evaluation consisted of 30 total kicks, including 10 extra points and seven attempts beyond 50 yards featuring a 60-yard conversion. Tucker hit every kick during the workout with high accuracy, prompting the practice squad signing.
🚨 THE CHIEFS JUST SIGNED JUSTIN TUCKER — THE SAME KICKER TRAVIS KELCE ONCE HAD A HEATED SIDELINE CONFRONTATION WITH! NOW HARRISON BUTKER’S JOB COULD BE ON THE LINE!There’s some serious drama brewing in Kansas City, and it involves three familiar names: Justin Tucker, Harrison… pic.twitter.com/2NC4cud8KY
Career Statistics and Past Disciplinary Suspension
Tucker, a five-time All-Pro, did not appear in an NFL game during the 2024 season. His final active campaign saw him convert 22 of 30 field goals for a 73.3 percent success rate, ranking 31st in the league while missing 10 kicks total—his highest single-season miss total. His return to the league also follows an off-field suspension. While serving as a free agent last year, Tucker completed a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL personal conduct policy. The Baltimore Banner reported in February 2025 that 16 massage therapists across eight Baltimore-area spa and wellness facilities had brought forward sexual misconduct allegations against Tucker spanning from 2012 to 2016. The Baltimore Ravens released him in May 2025, and the league issued its suspension two months later.
Coaching Confidence and Future Outlook
The Chiefs view Tucker as an insurance option who can step in if needed, with Taub noting that the practice squad addition allows Tucker to build operational timing with long snapper James Winchester and punter Matt Araiza. Head coach Andy Reid mentioned on Wednesday that if Butker’s struggles persist against Denver, Tucker could handle kicking duties the following week against the New York Jets, though no permanent change has been finalized. Taub and Butker share a professional history dating back to 2017, when Kansas City signed Butker off the Carolina Panthers practice squad, launching a career that includes three Super Bowl titles.
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