Some NFL fans see disparities in its responses to Harrison Butker and Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick (L) and Harrison Butker (R).

Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Gordon Parks Foundation and Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech — and the reaction to it — continue to dominate conversation off the field, with key figures in the NFL weighing in publicly for the first time this week.

The Kansas City Chiefs kicker stirred up a culture war skirmish with his remarks at Benedictine College earlier this month, in which he denounced abortion rights, Pride Month, COVID-19 lockdowns, “dangerous gender ideologies” and “the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion,” while also encouraging female graduates to embrace the “vocation” of homemaker, all in 20 minutes.

The speech, which has since racked up nearly 2 million views on YouTube, resonated with some football fans and conservative public figures, including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley. Online sales of Butker’s jersey spiked, becoming the Chiefs’ best-seller.