How Many More Chances Will Andy Reid Give Harrison Butker After His Seven Missed Field Goals?

Andy Reid sticks with Harrison Butker for the Kansas City Chiefs' trip to the Atlanta Falcons© Image via: X/@NFL

Booed off the field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 8, Harrison Butker left a nagging question hanging over the Kansas City Chiefs: would they hand his job to someone else? Andy Reid settled that question on Wednesday, at least for now. Butker will kick against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 15, despite leading the NFL with seven missed field goals and despite Justin Tucker sitting on the practice squad since October 28. Reid did not promise anything beyond this weekend, and the way he phrased his decision suggests the Chiefs are watching every kick.

Harrison Butker Searches For His Rhythm As The Kansas City Chiefs Stay Patient

Through eight games, Butker has made 12 of 19 field goals, and the timing of the misses has stung as much as the count. Against the New York Jets, he missed a 56-yarder with seven seconds left in the first half, only to be saved when a defensive offside flag wiped the kick out. Given another shot from five yards closer, he sent the 51-yarder wide right, and the boos followed him up the tunnel.

The trouble started in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers and carried through two misses against the Seattle Seahawks. A missed 54-yarder then helped sink the Chiefs in a 28-24 loss to the Denver Broncos. That makes four straight games with at least one miss.

Reid spoke on November 11 without any drama.

"As far as the kicking part goes, I'm going to stick with Butker this week, and we'll go from there," Reid said.

He also pointed to what Butker has already given the team. The kicker is 31 and has been on the roster for all three of the Chiefs' recent Super Bowl wins.

#Chiefs K Harrison Butker was heavily booed after his missed FG to end the half. https://t.co/fho2DGHjz5

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 8, 2026

"Harrison has done such a great job for us over time. Sometimes you go through these little peaks and valleys. I'm going to give him a chance to work through them, and we'll see how things go."

Justin Tucker Gives The Chiefs A Proven Option If Harrison Butker Keeps Missing

Tucker is not a typical practice squad name. He owns five first-team All-Pro selections and an 89.1 percent career field-goal rate, the second best in NFL history. The Baltimore Ravens released him in 2025 after 13 seasons, and he has not played an NFL game since 2024. The league announced a 10-week suspension for him in June 2025 over personal conduct violations, which he denied.

Butker, meanwhile, said the confidence has not left him after the Jets game.

"I try to be my best on every single kick, and unfortunately, those 50-plus-yarders aren't going in. But I feel confident. I'm excited for the kicks, and I just have to do better."