Kansas City Chiefs star Harrison Butker impressed in the team’s first preseason game on Saturday over a month on from the drama surrounding his attendance – or lack thereof – at Travis Kelce’s wedding.
The Chiefs suited up for the first game since Kelce married pop sensation Taylor Swift in a blockbuster ceremony at Madison Square Garden as they faced the Los Angeles Rams in their preseason opener.
The tight end is believed to have exchanged his vows in front of almost all his Chiefs teammates – with a notable exception.
Butker is believed to be the only member of the Kansas City roster who did not receive an invitation – a snub that the Daily Mail understands sparked chaos in the locker room.
Yet, the kicker appeared to have brushed off the drama as he put up an impressive display on Saturday, earning him congratulations from his teammates.
Butker, who has played alongside Kelce since 2017, went 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts, including a 59-yard kick through the posts.
Kansas City Chiefs star Harrison Butker impressed in the team’s first preseason game
The controversial star is believed to be the only Chief who was not invited to Travis Kelce’s wedding to Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden in July
After sending the pigskin through the uprights on all attempts, Butker was immediately surrounded by a huddle of his teammates, who tapped him on the back or helmet to congratulate him.
In fact, Butker was responsible for all nine points on the board for the Chiefs. However, even his field goals weren’t enough to narrow the deficit against the Rams with Los Angeles clinching a 20-9 win.
Butker, a devout Catholic and outspoken Trump supporter who has won three Super Bowls alongside Kelce, gave a memorably divisive commencement speech at the Benedictine College in Kansas in 2024.
He referred to pride month as ‘a deadly sin’ and suggested women might consider prioritizing being a ‘homemaker’ over a career.
At the time, Kelce said he disagreed with Butker’s views. Swift, of course, is an outspoken Democrat and Trump critic.
And a Chiefs player told the Daily Mail in July that the wedding invite drama had sparked locker-room chaos within Kelce’s team.
The apparent decision not to invite the controversial kicker in particular having led to snipy text messages in various group chats between teammates.
The Chiefs player, who asked to remain anonymous, says: ‘It’s really their wedding and I understand why they wouldn’t have invited [Butker]. But there’s some difference of opinion [between players]. Lots of texts are going around the team and some people who are close to Harrison feel like he was snubbed.
Butker was immediately surrounded by a huddle of his teammates after his field goals
‘The general idea was that there was a blanket invite for the team, but [every other player] received something individually. If Harrison had really wanted to come, he probably could have. But they’re not close, so… he wasn’t going to go, even if he had been invited.’
As a result, the Chiefs player added: ‘There’s now a lot of gossip going on. Training camp [for the new NFL season] starts in three weeks and it’s going to be a whole thing. A lot of guys want it to be drama [between Butker and Kelce]. They just like that s**t… a couple of the guys are being messy and texting Harrison to see what he thinks. We’re like a high school team sometimes.’
The player continued: ‘Can’t say too much because Travis is my friend… Yeah, there are a few group texts. I’m on one with Harrison [Butker]. Someone sent a news story about him not being invited, and the group was like “WTF?” But he didn’t reply.
‘I don’t think anyone on the team wishes [Kelce] anything but good things. Everyone likes him. He’s a good teammate and a good friend. There’s locker room s**t but it’s nothing disrespectful.’
Kelce, meanwhile, proudly showed off his wedding ring as he arrived to his first Kansas City Chiefs preseason game since tying the knot.
Kelce arrived at the Kansas City stadium with his usual flair, dressed in a knit co-ord shirt and short set featuring a gold tie-dye detailing.
The three-time Super Bowl champion kept it cool with blacked-out sunglasses and black sneakers.
Kelce proudly showed off his gold wedding band as he arrived at Arrowhead Stadium
The NFL star, 36, had a life-changing offseason, marrying pop sensation Swift
However, the most notable accessory adorning his look was, of course, his new shining gold wedding band, which he flashed as he strolled into the stadium.
However, his new wife was not initially spotted in one of the luxury suites at Arrowhead – as she often is for the Chiefs’ home games – as the clash kicked off for the first quarter.
The Shake It Off hitmaker was spotted stepping out in London earlier this week in her first solo sighting as a married woman.
Kelce was not expected to play in the exhibition game and did not start alongside a number of Chiefs stars, including Patrick Mahomes.
