Andy Reid's concern for Harrison Butker grows after his mistakes: "He's off a bit"

Harrison Butker has established himself as one of the NFL's most dependable kickers throughout his decade with the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, a difficult night against the Seattle Seahawks has intensified scrutiny of his performances, with head coach Andy Reid acknowledging that the veteran needs to rediscover his best form.

Kansas City's 20-3 defeat on Sunday was a disappointing evening across all three phases of the game, but Butker's missed field goals represented two particularly damaging moments.

The 31-year-old failed to convert attempts from 58 and 45 yards, leaving the Chiefs without valuable points as they struggled to mount a comeback.

Reid did not attempt to dismiss the mistakes when asked about his kicker after the game. Instead, he recognised Butker's outstanding record while making it clear that his current performances are not meeting expectations.

"He's been one of the most consistent kickers in football," Reid started. "He's off a bit, so gotta fix it."

The coach's comments came after a defeat that ended Kansas City's unbeaten start to the season.

Although Butker was not solely responsible for the result, his inability to capitalise on scoring opportunities added to the frustration of an offense that managed just three points.

The first missed kick came just before halftime. After cornerback Nohl Williams made a lengthy interception return, Kansas City had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard before the break.

Butker's 58-yard attempt travelled down the middle but did not have enough distance, leaving the Chiefs trailing 10-0.

His second miss proved equally frustrating. With fewer than eight minutes remaining, Butker had a chance to reduce Seattle's lead to seven points with a 45-yard field goal.

Instead, the kick drifted wide right, making the task of recovering from the deficit considerably more difficult.

Butker's long-range struggles create another problem for Kansas City

The concern surrounding Butker extends beyond a single disappointing performance. His ability to convert difficult kicks has been a defining feature of his career, making his recent problems from distance particularly noticeable.

In 2023, Butker converted all five of his regular-season attempts from beyond 50 yards. His record in that area has deteriorated since then, and his latest misses against Seattle have reinforced questions about his consistency.

NFL statistics also show that his overall field-goal percentage has fallen to 68.8% in the 2026 season, based on 11 successful kicks from 16 attempts.

Butker's difficulties previously attracted attention during the 2024 campaign, when injury concerns interrupted his season.

However, there has been no confirmed indication that an injury is responsible for his current form, leaving the Chiefs with questions to address as they assess his performances.

The kicker himself acknowledged that his preparation had not gone as hoped before the Seattle game.

"Warm-up wasn't great. It's just something that you have to roll with and try to fix it in the game and do the best that you can," Butker said.

He also recognised the need to improve, while expressing confidence in the support he receives from Kansas City's special teams staff.

"He's my biggest supporter and always pushing me to do my best," Butker said of special teams coordinator Dave Toub. "Every kick matters, every day at practice, every game. I've got to be better."

Reid's continued support suggests that Kansas City is not immediately ready to abandon a player who has delivered in high-pressure situations throughout his career.

But the Chiefs cannot afford to overlook repeated mistakes as the season progresses and the stakes become higher.

The franchise has previously relied on replacement kickers Spencer Shrader and Matthew Wright, who stepped in and delivered important kicks when opportunities arose. That history provides a reminder that Kansas City has alternatives if Butker's performances fail to improve.

For now, the priority will be helping the veteran regain his accuracy and confidence. Reid has made his expectations clear: Butker's reputation remains intact, but his recent performances must improve.

With the Chiefs looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season, the coming weeks could prove important in determining whether Butker can put his struggles behind him or whether Kansas City needs to consider competition for one of the most specialised positions on its roster.