NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gives first public comments on controversial Harrison Butker commencement speech

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave his first public statement Wednesday on Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker‘s controversial comments during a commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic school in Atchison, Kansas, on May 12.

“We have over 3,000 players. We have executives around the league. They have diversity of opinions and thoughts just like America does. That’s something we treasure,” Goodell said at the NFL Spring Meetings in Nashville, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Butker, who spoke for more than 20 minutes, told the women receiving degrees that he’d venture to guess “the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

“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,” Butker said, via CNN. “How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? 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.”

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

Harrison Butker comments on Joe Biden’s presidency

The 28-year-old, three-time Super Bowl champion further assailed against Pride Month as well as President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“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 said. “He has been so vocal in his support of the murder of innocent babies that I’m sure to many people, it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice.”

The NFL released the following statement this past Thursday, which Goodell referred to after making his brief comments.

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” said Jonathan Beane, chief diversity and inclusion officer of the NFL. “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.”

Gracie Hunt, daughter of Chiefs owner, offers public comments on Harrison Butker controversy

Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, told Will Cain and Steve Doocy on a FOX News broadcast from First Baptist Dallas church on Friday that she respects Butker and what he was relaying to the female graduates.

“For sure,” said Hunt, when asked if she understood Butker’s message. “And I really respect Harrison and his Christian faith and what he’s accomplished on and off the field.”

Hunt added: “I can only speak from my own experience, which is I had the most incredible mom who had the ability to stay home and be with us as kids growing up. And I understand that there are many women out there who can’t make that decision but for me in my life, I know it was really formative in my shaping me and my siblings to be who we are.”