Jason Kelce has offered his perspective on the recent controversial commencement speech delivered by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker at Benedictine College.
In the speech, Butker suggested that women should prioritize homemaking over careers and also expressed views against the LGBTQ+ community and abortion, which ignited significant debate.
Despite not fully agreeing with Butker’s comments, Kelce, the retired Philadelphia Eagles center, chose to highlight a positive aspect of the speech during the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast. He emphasized the importance of family and parenthood, saying:
“He talks about family. I don’t think we have enough people talking about the foundation of family and the seriousness of parenthood.”
“If you’re going to embark on being a parent, I do think it needs to be the most important thing in your life. If your kids aren’t the most important thing in your and your wife’s life, you are failing, in my opinion,” Kelce stated.
Kelce also pointed out that disagreements on various topics are common, even among teammates, which he sees as part of the diversity of opinions in any team environment.
He expressed appreciation for the insights from those who know Butker personally, like Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs coach Andy Reid, and his own brother, Travis Kelce, who also spoke on the podcast defending Butker against the backlash while acknowledging his disagreement with the content of the speech.
Jason Kelce further elaborated on how he would react if his daughters were advised to become homemakers after earning a degree. “I would say that if my daughters listen to someone tell them what to do, that they should be homemakers, I failed as a dad,” he commented, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and personal choice.
Kelce wrapped up his discussion with a humorous yet reflective note on understanding the sensitivity of Butker’s remarks, joking about traditional gender roles with his wife, Kylie, to lighten the conversation. This led to a moment of laughter with his brother, Travis, highlighting their ability to address serious topics while keeping a sense of humor.
