NFL fans have been shocked to learn of Harrison Butker’s mom’s career – after he appeared to tell college graduates to focus on becoming homemakers.

The Kansas City Chiefs kicker, 28, went viral after making a string of divisive comments during a speech at Benedictine College, Kansas, last weekend.

NFL star Harrison Butker has caused controversy with a Kansas graduate speechCredit: Benedictine College

The Kansas City Chiefs kicker spoke about the role of women in the addressCredit: Getty

Butker’s mom, Elizabeth Keller Butker, (right) is a physicist at Emory UniversityCredit: Elizabeth Keller Butker/Facebook
Butker spoke on the role of women in society during his address to students at the Catholic private arts college.

He told female graduates they had been told “diabolic lies,” and the “most important” role a woman can hold is the title of homemaker, per NBC.

“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world,” Butker said, using his wife Isabelle as an example.

“But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.

“I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”

The NFL star’s mom Elizabeth Keller Butker is an accomplished physicist with over 20 published scientific papers.

She has worked in the department of radiation oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta since 1988, per her LinkedIn page.

“It’s probably worth mentioning that Harrison Butker’s mom is an accomplished physicist and not a woman who just “stayed at home”,” wrote one user on X.

“Harrison Butker might have thought of his mother and her impressive accomplishments before running his mouth so publicly,” claimed another.

“Hey @NFL – If you want to continue to grow your female fan base and any other marginalized group (straight white men are already watching your product), come get your boy,” added Lisa Guerrero, a former NFL sideline reporter.

Butker criticized President Biden’s leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic in his speech, per AP.

The NFL star singled out male members of the audience, telling them to “be unapologetic in your masculinity,” and “fight against the cultural emasculation of men.”

He also spoke out against Pride month, claiming the LGBTQ+ community promoted “dangerous gender ideologies,” per E! Online.

Butker’s comments have caused a backlash, particularly amongst supporters of Travis Kelce’s girlfriend Taylor Swift.

The kicker and tight end Kelce have won three Super Bowls together since becoming teammates at the Chiefs in 2017.

Butker’s most controversial remarks from speech

The NFL has distanced themselves from the comments

Harrison Butker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College has gone viral after he spoke out on abortion, Pride month, and Covid-19 lockdown measures.

An outspoken Catholic, the NFL kicker urged students to stay on the path of righteousness and religion during his address.

Butker took a swipe at President Biden for supporting abortion rights which he labelled as the “murder of innocent babies”.

“Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder,” he continued.

“Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally.”

Butker went on to call Pride month a “deadly sin,” and suggested it promoted “dangerous gender ideologies.”

He also singled out female graduates in the audience and told them they had been told “diabolical lies.”

“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment,” he began.

“I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.

“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

The NFL has since responded, saying: “[Butker’s] views are not those of the NFL as an organization.”

Some fans have asked for Butker to be “banned from the NFL,” per PinkVilla.

The Chiefs declined to comment on the commencement address.

But the NFL has now broken its silence on the furor.

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” the NFL’s senior vice president Jonathan Beane said in a statement to People.

“His views are not those of the NFL as an organization.

“The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

Butker spoke about his wife Isabelle (right) in his speechCredit: Getty