Can Harrison Butker Keep His Kansas City Chiefs Job After J.J. Watt’s Blunt Question?

J.J. Watt called out the Chiefs on air for signing Justin Tucker and then keeping him on the bench.© Image via: X/@NFL_DovKleiman

Kansas City won by 23 points, yet the loudest talk after the game had nothing to do with the scoreboard. Harrison Butker pushed two more field goals wide right before halftime, the Arrowhead Stadium crowd let him hear it, and Justin Tucker stayed on the bench. CBS analyst J.J. Watt noticed right away, and he said so on air. His question is simple, direct and fair. If the Kansas City Chiefs accepted the heat that came with signing Tucker, why would they not use him when their veteran kicker keeps struggling against the New York Jets?

J.J. Watt Puts The Justin Tucker Decision Squarely On The Kansas City Chiefs

Watt treated this as a basic cost and reward problem. The Chiefs already paid the cost. Tucker left the Baltimore Ravens after the 2024 season amid sexual misconduct allegations, and the backlash followed him to Kansas City.

"We talked about it last week ad nauseam, the distraction of bringing him in and the allegations and everything," Watt said on air.

"I don't know why you bring him in and invite those distractions if you're not going to make that change."

The criticism goes beyond football. Julie Donelon, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, told KSNW.

"Bringing on somebody who has allegations like this against them sends a message to all of those people that it's more important to have this person on the team than it is to believe and support survivors,"

Jim Nantz: "Please don't demonstrate that to us again." J.J. Watt: "You don't want to, Jim?" Jim Nantz: "No, we're good." J.J. Watt: "Your wrist recovered?" Jim Nantz: "Not quite."  https://t.co/HMZLvqFIBa

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 8, 2026

Her view adds weight to Watt's point. A team that takes on public criticism needs a clear football reason, and a practice squad spot for a kicker who has not played a full year is a hard one to defend.

Harrison Butker's Kicking Slump Leaves Andy Reid With A Tough Call

The misses came fast. Butker missed from 56 yards, then got a second chance after Malik McClain was flagged for defensive offside. He missed again from 51. That brought his season total to seven missed field goals, and the boos at Arrowhead Stadium were hard to ignore.

Butker did not dodge the issue afterward.

"I try to be my best on every single kick, and unfortunately, those 50-plus-yarders aren't going in," Butker told reporters after Sunday's game.

Head coach Andy Reid kept his answer short and left the door open.

"I'll address that as we go throughout the week," Reid told the media after the game. "I'll look at everything. I'm not making any decisions right now today."

The 35-12 win gave Reid breathing room, but a lopsided score will not fix a kicking problem. Butker also missed a key kick in the Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos, so this is a pattern and not a bad afternoon. Reid has said Tucker already served his suspension, which clears one hurdle on paper.

The real test arrives this week. Kansas City must either back Butker fully or admit the Tucker experiment has a purpose. Staying in the middle satisfies nobody.