Butker went to The Westminster Schools, where he played on the football team. He broke the school record for a field goal of 53 yards. He was a three-sport athlete in basketball, football, and soccer, winning three state championships in soccer.
College career
Butker played at Georgia Tech from 2013 through 2016 under head coach Paul Johnson. Butker is the all-time leading scorer in school history and was a captain of the team for his senior season. In his collegiate career, he converted 208-of-210 extra point attempts and 43-of-60 field goal attempts.
The Carolina Panthers selected Butker in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the third and last kicker selected in 2017. On May 5, 2017, the Panthers signed Butker to a four-year, $2.48 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $83,112. He was waived on September 13, 2017 in favor of veteran Graham Gano, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.
Kansas City Chiefs
2017 season
On September 26, 2017, Butker was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs off the Panthers' practice squad. On October 2, 2017, Butker converted a game-winning field goal in his debut game against the Washington Redskins. In the following game against the Houston Texans, Butker made all five of his field goal attempts and all three extra point tries. In Week 8, he converted five field goals, including a 51-yarder, in a 29–19 win over the Denver Broncos, earning himself AFC Special TeamsPlayer of the Week and AFC Special Teams Player of the Month. In his first month in the NFL he earned two NFL records: Most made field goals in a month for a rookie kicker and the only player to make five field goals in multiple games of rookie season. In Week 16, Butker converted five field goals in a 29-13 win over the Miami Dolphins, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Overall, in the 2017 season, he converted all 28 extra point attempts and 38-of-42 field goal attempts. Butker was named as an alternate to the 2018 Pro Bowl. He finished the season tied for fourth in scoring with Chris Boswell with 142 points. The Chiefs finished with a 10–6 record and qualified for the playoffs in the 2017 season. In the Wild Card Round against the Tennessee Titans, Butker converted three extra points and missed a 48-yard field goal in the 22–21 defeat.
2018 season
In Week 2, Butker converted a career-high six extra points in the 42–37 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Overall, in the 2018 season, he converted 65 of 69 extra point attempts and 24 of 27 field goal attempts.
2019 season
On April 15, 2019, Butker signed his exclusive rights free agent tender with the Chiefs. The tender gave him a one-year contract worth $645,000. On June 13, 2019, he signed a five-year extension worth $20.3 million. In Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, Butker made two extra points and four field goal attempts, including a 44-yard game-winner, in the 26–23 win, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. On December 5, Butker was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his play in November. Butker led the NFL in regular season field goals with 34 completed field goals. He finished the regular season with 45 of 48 extra points converted and 34 of 38 field goals converted. During the playoffs, Butker made one field goal and went 11 for 12 in extra point attempts. In the Chiefs 31–20 Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers, Butker converted all four extra point attempts and his only field goal attempt, a 31-yarder in the second quarter.
NFL statistics
NFL records
Most field goals made by a rookie: 38
Chiefs franchise records
Most field goals made, season: 38
Most field goals attempted by a rookie: 42
Most field goals made in first two seasons: 62
Most points by a rookie: 142
Most points by a kicker, season: 142
Most points by a player in their first two seasons: 279
