Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift drew a crowded guest list to their wedding celebration at Madison Square Garden on Friday, but one notable Kansas City Chiefs name was missing from the room.
According to the Daily Mail, kicker Harrison Butker did not attend and was the only current Chiefs player who did not receive an invitation. That stood out because Butker has been with Kelce in Kansas City since 2017, making his absence especially noticeable as teammates and friends gathered for the event.
Most of the Chiefs’ current roster made the cut, and several players were in New York for the celebration. Chris Jones, Kareem Hunt and Trent McDuffie were among those who attended. Mecole Hardman Jr. also received an invitation, along with Raiders TE coach Luke Steckel, Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp and Baker Mayfield.
Butker’s name has been tied to controversy since his graduation speech at Benedictine College two years ago, when he said that many women should focus on raising a family rather than building a career. In that same speech, he criticized then-President Joe Biden’s views on abortion and spoke against the LGBTQ+ community. More than 260,000 people later signed a petition asking the Chiefs to release him.
Kelce defended Butker in a May 2024 episode of the New Heights podcast, saying he did not agree with most of the kicker’s views but did not believe they should define him. “When it comes down to his views and what he said at the Saint Benedict’s commencement speech, those are his,” Kelce said. “I can’t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids.”
Kelce added, “I don’t think that I should judge him by his views, especially his religious views, of how to go about life.”
Jason Kelce also pushed back on Butker’s comments while calling for respect for different opinions. “The things he said in the commencement speech are not things that I align myself with.”
Patrick Mahomes backed his teammate as well. “I’ve known Harrison for seven years and I judge him by the character that he shows every single day,” Mahomes said. “That’s a good person.”
Andy Reid offered a similar message. “Everybody is from different areas, different religions, different races, and so we all get along, we all respect each other’s opinions.”
In Other News...
Avery Johnson, Wesley Fair, Mikey Bergeron Embody What Keeps K-State Dangerous
Kansas States 2026 roster is shaping up to lean heavily on familiar faces from home, with 22 players from Kansas expected to be in the mix. That local core matters because the Wildcats have built plenty of their edge on players who already know the program, the expectations and the kind of physical football it takes to stay relevant deep into the season. Among that group, Avery Johnson, Wesley Fair and Mikey Bergeron stand out as three different kinds of tone-setters, each positioned to help in a phase of the game where Kansas State has to keep winning small battles.
Johnson remains the headliner on offense, Fair is trying to turn a strong 2025 into an even bigger role on defense, and Bergeron has become the kind of special teams piece coaches trust without hesitation. The interesting part for Kansas State is that none of that feels accidental. These are the players who can keep the Wildcats dangerous because they cover all the hidden edges of a season, from quarterback play to defensive depth to the third phase, and the only real question is how much more each one can still grow once the new year starts. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch Big 12 Media Days
Big 12 Football Media Days in Frisco are giving every league fanbase something to track, and Kansas State has its own angle in the mix. With all 16 teams set to cycle through offseason updates and season expectations, the Wildcats will have Collin Klein making his first appearance at the conference podium as a head coach, a notable moment for a program trying to settle into a new era while the rest of the league sorts through its own changes.
There is also a familiar face for K-State fans to keep an eye on in Avery Johnson, one of the returning quarterbacks expected to draw attention in Texas. Between the coaching debuts, the chatter around the leagues pressure points and Brett Yormarks expected comments on the bigger issues facing college sports, the Wildcats place in the conversation may end up being one of the more interesting threads to follow even before the season really gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Enters A Defining Kansas State Season Under Heavy Pressure
Avery Johnson heads into his final season as Kansas States starting quarterback with the kind of spotlight that comes with being both the face of the offense and the player most likely to determine how far the Wildcats can go. He has already shown the dual-threat ability that makes him such an intriguing piece, and there is real anticipation around whether a full year in the role can bring out the more complete version of his game.
The pressure only grows with Collin Klein taking over the program, bringing a fresh start to a team that wants more than flashes from its quarterback. Johnson now has to navigate a season that feels bigger than a normal senior year, with Kansas State hoping his experience and talent can help push the Wildcats toward the next tier in the Big 12 while also giving him a stronger case for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]