Almost everyone has an opinion about Harrison Butker's controversial commencement speech from earlier this month.
The Chiefs kicker made several inflammatory comments about women, LGBTQ+ Pride month and U.S. President Joe Biden. His speech caught the attention of almost everyone both in and outside of the NFL world on either side of the aisle.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel didn't comment on his personal beliefs regarding what Butker said, but he did mention that there's a lesson to be learned for players following the attention Butker's speech received.
“I think you do have to open the eyes of the players to their platform if they’re new to the situation,” McDaniel told reporters Wednesday. “I think you have to understand that what you say publicly can be fragmented and last with you forever. I really emphasize that whatever you’re going to say, you better believe it. You just try to educate people to understand the consequences of whatever they do. They have the freedom of choice, and if they want to go that direction, go right ahead.”
This is a similarly centrist approach to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who emphasized a "diversity of opinions" in the league when asked about Butker's words. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes disagreed with the words but wouldn't denounce his kicker. The same went for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and defensive tackle Chris Jones.
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The role of players in a public forum has been a rolling take for years. It really started with Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality in 2016 and has spiraled since with various other players making statements that have divided fans. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is another after he's continued to spout conspiracy theories. A lot of players, including Rodgers and ex-Bills wideout Cole Beasley, were also vocal in their opposition of the NFL's COVID-19 vaccine policies in 2021.
Butker's speech received a lot of backlash as well from some notable names. Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, the nuns of the college Butker spoke at and journalist Maria Shriver were among the biggest to voice their opinions in opposite to what Butker said. The NFL also said in a statement soon after Butker's speech that his comments "are not those of the NFL as an organization."
What McDaniel is basically saying to Butker, and the rest of the NFL, is that despite the freedom of choice and speech, there are consequences for your opinions being publicized when you work in a public-facing job. So for McDaniel, the key for any player who wants to speak his mind is that they understand all the potential outcomes of that decision.
