The offense picks the distance.
Kickers don't choose their attempts; offenses do. Butker's offense is one that parks the ball in chip-shot range. His average attempt is among the shortest in the league, with more kicks from under 30 and fewer from 40–49, the range where kickers actually separate.
That isn't his fault. But it isn't his résumé either.
Paid like the best. Hasn't ranked like it.
In August 2024 the Chiefs gave Butker a four-year extension, and by 2026 his cap hit is the biggest of any kicker on Over the Cap's list. Line it up next to where he actually ranked in field goals over expected and the price starts to look like it's paying for the reputation.
Every miss, with receipts.
Fifty-four games with at least one Butker miss. Add the missed points back, change nothing else, and here's the bill: four losses where the missed points matched or beat the margin of defeat, one of them a playoff exit. Five games dragged into overtime. Ten wins that stayed one-score games longer than they had to.
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KC 21 – TEN 22
- MISS FG 48 yds · Q3
A 48-yard miss in the 3rd quarter of a Wild Card game. The missed points exceeded the margin of defeat, and the season ended there.
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KC 32 – TEN 35
- MISS PAT · Q3
- MISS FG 52 yds · Q4 (blocked)
A missed PAT in the 3rd and a blocked 52-yarder in the 4th (credit the line with an assist on that one). The missed points exceeded the margin of defeat.
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KC 24 – CIN 27
- MISS FG 55 yds · Q4
A 55-yard miss in the 4th at 24–27. The missed points equaled the margin of defeat.
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KC 17 – PHI 20
- MISS FG 58 yds · Q1
A 58-yard miss in the 1st quarter. The missed points equaled the margin of defeat, with most of the game still to play.
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KC 27 – BAL 24
- MISS FG 51 yds · Q2
- MISS FG 43 yds · Q4
Missed from 51 and from 43, the second with the game tied in the 4th. It went to overtime, where he hit the 35-yarder that won it.
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KC 23 – LAC 20
- MISS PAT · Q2 (blocked)
A blocked PAT in the 2nd, and the game went to overtime, where he drilled a 58-yarder to win it. Credit where due.
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KC 42 – BUF 36
- MISS FG 50 yds · Q2
- MISS PAT · Q3
Missed from 50 and a PAT, then made a 49-yarder in the 4th to force overtime. Won in OT. The miss and the make, same night.
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KC 20 – TEN 17
- MISS PAT · Q2
- MISS FG 47 yds · Q3
A missed PAT and a missed 47-yarder, and it was tied after regulation. He hit a 28-yarder in OT to win it.
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KC 30 – HOU 24
- MISS PAT · Q2
- MISS FG 51 yds · Q4
A missed PAT in the 2nd and a 51-yard miss at 24–24 in the 4th. Overtime. Won anyway.
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KC 30 – LAC 13
- MISS FG 52 yds · Q2
A 52-yard miss in the 2nd. In the 4th the lead was one score when the missed points would have made it two. Won anyway.
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KC 33 – BAL 28
- MISS PAT · Q2
One missed extra point. The 4th-quarter lead stayed one score when it didn't have to. Won.
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KC 34 – BAL 20
- MISS PAT · Q1
- MISS FG 42 yds · Q2
A missed PAT and a missed 42-yarder in the first half. The 4th-quarter lead was one score when it could have been two. Won.
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KC 33 – CAR 31
- MISS FG 48 yds · Q3
- MISS PAT · Q4
Missed from 48 in the 3rd and a PAT in the 4th, and the Panthers hung around within one score. Won.
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KC 22 – CLE 17
- MISS PAT · Q1
- MISS FG 33 yds · Q3
A missed PAT and a missed 33-yarder in a playoff game that stayed one score in the 4th. Won and advanced.
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KC 44 – SF 23
- MISS FG 39 yds · Q2
A 39-yard miss in the 2nd. The Chiefs won going away, but the lead was one score in the 4th when the missed points would have made it two, so the tag technically applies. Technically.
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KC 38 – PHI 35
- MISS FG 42 yds · Q1
A 42-yard miss in the 1st quarter of the Super Bowl, and the 4th quarter stayed one score. Then he made the 27-yarder at 35–35 that won it.
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KC 22 – ATL 17
- MISS PAT · Q3
One missed extra point in the 3rd, and the Falcons stayed within one score. Won.
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KC 17 – LAC 10
- MISS FG 65 yds · Q2
A 65-yard miss in the 2nd. Nobody makes a living from 65. Won anyway.
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KC 22 – NYG 9
- MISS FG 40 yds · Q2
- MISS PAT · Q4
A missed 40-yarder in the 2nd and a missed PAT from 48 yards in the 4th, and the Giants stayed within one score. Won.
“Missed points” is simple math; real games don't play out that way. Full ledger and method →
This season, so far
- MISS Week 2 vs IND: FG from 51 Forced OTA 51-yard miss, the game tied after regulation, and a win in overtime. The Chiefs survived; the reputation got a little dent.
Updated 2026-09-21
Short kicks. Professional coattail rider. Top-of-market paycheck (literally).
See the receipts →