Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, a two-time Super Bowl champion and outspoken Catholic, delivered the commencement address at his alma mater, the Georgia Institute of Technology, telling students they should not focus on wealth and material success, because those can only bring fleeting happiness. Instead, he said getting married and starting a family is the path to true joy.
Butker, according to video of the address posted on Twitter, told graduates what while he has gained fame and honors during his football career, he pointed to his wedding ring as the most important ring he has ever received, noting the family he builds with his wife will be his greatest legacy.
“Sadly, we are encouraged to live our lives for ourselves,” Butker told graduates, “to move from one thing to another with no long-term commitment, to have loyalty for nothing but ourselves and sacrifice only when it suits our own interests.”
Moreover, according to the post, Butker also pointed out that many young adults may experience feelings of loneliness that are driven by the false sense that self and career are most important.
“I don’t care if you have a successful career. I don’t care if you have a big bank account or you fly private,” he told the graduates, according to the post. “Many of you in this crowd will achieve these things. Some of you maybe already have. But in the end, no matter how much money you attain, none of it will matter if you are alone and devoid of purpose.”
Butker, according to the video post, recounted to graduates how he was raised in a family of overachievers and success was expected, and he initially found happiness in being recognized for his achievements on the football field.
“All of you are here today because you are smart, capable, and hardworking people,” he continued. “But if we’re being honest, the world is filled with miserable, smart, capable, and hardworking people. There are too many examples to list of people who have achieved great worldly success and fleeting happiness, but in the end, are unfulfilled.”
Butker stressed in the address he wants to see the graduates be successful, but pointed out they can achieve this beyond their careers by using their talents, being their best selves and fulfilling their ultimate potential.
“Studies have shown one of the many negative effects of the pandemic is that a lot of young adults feel a sense of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, despite technology that has connected us more than ever before,” he said. “It would seem the more connected people are to one another, the more they feel alone. I’m not sure what the root of this, but at least I can offer one controversial antidote that I believe will have a lasting impact for generations to come: get married and start a family.”
Butker, according to Sports Lulu, met his wife, Isabelle, when he was 15 years old. The couple wed five years ago in a Christian ceremony, with the NFL kicker sharing wedding photos on his Instagram page. The website noted that Butker wrote in the caption he would pray to God for the “strength and tenacity” to make all of the sacrifices necessary for Isabelle throughout their marriage.
The couple welcomed a son in 2019, according to Sports Lulu.
Butker has spent six seasons as the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, according to the team’s website, and holds the franchise record for most field goals made in a season, hitting 38 in 2017.
