Many might assume that Travis Kelce is the most popular player on the Kansas City Chiefs, but the latest NFL Players Association sales list suggests otherwise.
While Kelce may have his superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift to thank for his rise in popularity over the past year, it appears that teammate Harrison Butker has turned controversy into a surprising boost in popularity.
Recent sales figures from the Players Association, which was released on Tuesday, September 17, reveal that Butker, 29, has outperformed Kelce, 34, in NFL merchandise sales by a hair. The Chiefs kicker, who made headlines for his contentious commencement speech earlier this year at Benedictine College, ranked number 11 on the sales list. This list, which tracks sales of jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise, showed Butker selling slightly more than the tight-end, who came in at number 12.
Butker's unexpected rise to the top comes despite the backlash he faced for remarks made during his May address. In his speech, he encouraged women to embrace the role of "homemaker" and controversially likened Pride Month to a "deadly sin."
"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 children," he stated in the speech, a line that sparked debate on social media.
Instead of facing repercussions, the athlete was actually given a four-year, $26.5 million contract in August, solidifying his status as the highest-paid kicker in NFL history. Kelce has a similar achievement under his belt, as he signed an extension to his contract, which is worth nearly $35 million, making him the highest paid kicker in NFL history.
Fans might be wondering where quarterback Patrick Mahomes ranks on the list. The star player took the second spot, trailing behind C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans. Other notable players, including Aidan Hutchinson and Joe Burrow, rounded out the top five.
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