RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesST. JOSEPH, MO - JULY 29: Kicker Harrison Butker #7 and punter Matt Araiza #14 walk to the field before practice during the Kansas City Chiefs training camp on July 29, 2026 at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs as a whole are seeking a bounce-back season in 2026, but kicker Harrison Butker is especially. The Arrowhead Pride staff identified Butker as one of the players with the most at stake this year in terms of his NFL career.
After a total of nine missed kicks last year, with a career-low percentage on point-after attempts, Butker is looking to improve by making sure his preparation is as effective as possible. That starts with his practice routine, which he has tweaked to better mimic a game day. He told local media after practice on Wednesday.
“In a game, what a kicker is asked to do is to execute one kick every 15-20 minutes,” Butker explained. “I’ve been trying to gain confidence in waiting 15-20 minutes, then having to have a field goal that matters… however well I do, that’s the end result.
“In the past, it’s easy for practice; you kick a bunch of balls before the field-goal period, and then you’re kind of done for the day,” Butker went on. “But I’m trying to take advantage of these longer practices, treat it like a game and do what I’m going to be asked to do in a game, which is just one kick every 20 minutes or so.”
He clearly put a lot of thought into sharpening his routine in St. Joe, but he believes his entire process is requiring less thinking, acknowledging the kicker position as one where mental toughness is especially key.
“Last year, I wasn’t dropping down to that plant-foot knee, but I was having to think about it a lot,” Butker said. “Especially during training camp. Now I don’t have to focus on that, so I’m hoping I can just focus on things that matter more, smooth swing thoughts, and I think that’s been helpful for me to keep it simple and just focus on good ball contact instead of really focusing in on not dropping down on that knee.”
Butker’s narrowed focus includes disregarding a different kicking strategy when kicking off. He believes streamlining his technique was an important part of finishing strong in a tough season last year.
“Obviously, the place kicking and field goals matter the most. I think, maybe trying to hit those knuckle balls and the funny kickoffs maybe affected the field goals a little bit,” Butker shared.
“I’m just going to hit a high hangtime ball, good rotation, just focus on the location,” Butker continued. “I’m not going to try to hit a low, line-drive knuckle ball and I think that has helped my field goals. It’s kind of the same foot-to-ball contact… rather than having two different swings. That helped me the second half of the season, and I’m kind of sticking with that for training camp and this season.”
Cleaning up the practice routine for the Chiefs’ place-kicking team includes eliminating unrealistic or less-important distanced attempts.
“Throughout my entire career here, I feel like the only time I’ve ever hit a field goal longer than 58 yards was the end of the half or the end of the game,” Butker said. “Even when the wind is at my back, if we get the ball to the 40-yard line, it’s a 58-yarder; that’s what I’m expected to make. The other stuff is very rare; I need to be able to dial that up, but the majority of my kicks need to be 58 and in.”
Butker did the math, eliminating chip shots to further understand what range he should be most focused on.
“If you take those field goals out, the average field-goal distance is like 45 yards; I’m really trying to focus in on that number. Let me hit 40- to 50-yard field goals consistently.”
Butker, who is scheduled at the podium today, with a 10/10 during FG period.
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) August 5, 2026
On Wednesday, Butker followed up a strong day — according to Harold Kuntz of FOX4 — with a shanked attempt that went far left. He was asked about his only blemish of practice.
“I just destroyed the ground,” Butker smiled. “Coach Reid was reminding me that the footballs are brown, not green, because I hit so much of the ground.”
Whether or not Butker’s changed process results in a stronger season will be found out soon enough, and will be vital to the team’s success this year.
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