Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal attempt late in the game against the Denver Broncos on November 2, 2026, a miss that contributed to the Broncos' game-winning touchdown drive. The Chiefs led by three points when they faced third-and-2 from the Denver 30-yard line; a sack on Patrick Mahomes pushed the attempt back to 54 yards, and Butker pushed it wide right.
It was Butker's third significant miss in two weeks, raising questions about his reliability. Earlier in the week, the Chiefs signed former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad. Tucker has been out of the league since 2024 following allegations of sexual misconduct reported by The Baltimore Banner.
After the game, head coach Andy Reid defended the decision to attempt the long field goal. "Those are hindsight. It ended up being what it was," Reid said. "But it's within Harrison's range." However, statistics suggest otherwise. Through 2023, Butker made 89.1% of his total field goals and 28 of 40 (70%) from beyond 50 yards. Since then, his overall accuracy has dropped to 82.2%, and he has made just 8 of 18 (44.4%) from 50-plus yards. This season, he is 1-of-5 from 50-plus yards and also missed a 45-yard attempt.
The Chiefs' inability to trust Butker in critical situations may signal the end of his tenure in Kansas City, whether the team turns to Tucker or another option.
