How are the Kansas City Chiefs coping with all of their off field problems?

It’s been quite a ride for the Chiefs of late. From Andy Reid’s son and the horrific situation in which he is involved to Rashee Rice’s legal issues following an accident, it’s clear the Chiefs have a lot to deal with. That is of course before we touch on Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial speech. The point is, the Chiefs have had no shortage of fires to extinguish.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot on their plate

Given that the NFL season comes to an end by the end of January or at the latest the early days of February, it’s normally the case that May is a period without event. Unfortunately for the reigning Super Bowl champions, that has not been the case. Indeed, the Kansas City Chiefs who are fresh from winning their second consecutive Super Bowl title are currently facing circumstances that are anything but calm.

While we could get into the aforementioned scenario involving the team’s assistant coach who is also the son of the head coach Andy Reid, or the recent controversy surrounding wide receiver Rashee Rice’s hit and run and then run again, the nail in the coffin was definitely Harrison Butker’s foray into youth mentorship, or whatever you want to call it. Assuming you caught our previous report on Butker’s discourse, you will know that the 28-year-old - during a commencement speech at a private catholic school - touched on a range of topics including the present government’s handling of the covid-19 pandemic, the LGBTQ+ community, IVF treatment, and most notably the role of women in society. Indeed, Butker informed students that it was in fact women who have been told “diabolical lies” about what it means to pursue a career, culminating with the idea that the most fulfillment they can experience is as a wife and mother. “The majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” he said.

OK, so where do the Chiefs go from here?

As you can probably guess, Butker’s comments drew immense condemnation, but what was interesting to note is that both the NFL and the Chiefs did not give immediate comment. Where the league is concerned, the organization has since sought to distance itself from Butker, explaining that his views are his alone and not a reflection of the league’s ethos. As for the Chiefs, we’re still waiting. At any rate, what we can assume with safety, is the idea that the Chiefs’ image has taken a hit.

Frankly, between the Chiefs’ success in recent years, the plausible argument for nepotism where Andy Reid’s son is concerned, and the recent issues involving Rice and Butker, we’ve got some circumstances that support the narrative of a title-winning team taking advantage of its status. That’s to say, you can’t blame fans, haters, and neutrals for their growing animosity toward the franchise. So again, where do the Chiefs go from here? At this point, it’s hard to say but one thing that can’t be argued is the fact that the franchise will need to address this.

Where Rashee Rice is concerned, we’ve got a player who attempted to evade the law after actions that clearly violated it and then, just weeks later was charged with assault in a night club - clearly he learned a lesson. There was also Brit Reid - Andy Reid’s son - who perhaps presents the most damning scenario for the Chiefs, after he was found to be the cause of an accident that left a young girl in a coma and facing a lifetime of challenges. Reid was drunk at the time and later saw his sentence commuted by Missouri Governor, Mike Parson, something which has drawn immense ire from both sides of the political divide in the country. Needless to say, Butker’s politicized speech was the last straw.

This of course brings us back to the present, where in the midst of this all, we’ve got a relationship between the Chiefs’ star tight end, Travis Kelce, and one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Taylor Swift. If you didn’t know, the way in which the NFL and the Chiefs have benefitted from that union is not only well-documented but unprecedented. So, where does that leave us? Truth be told, it’s hard to say. It’s unlikely that recent developments will have a major effect on the sporting side of things, but there is no way to avoid the idea that it could make a major dent where the brand is concerned. Indeed, it’s hard to deny that the Chiefs are now an example of the stereotype that nobody likes to see: A champion who behaves as though it’s above the law. Whether that’s actually the case or not is irrelevant because as we all know, perception is reality.