NFL: Harrison Butker's Views 'Are Not Those' of the League After Graduation Speech

The NFL released a statement Thursday in which it distanced itself from comments made by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in a commencement speech at Benedictine College last week.

NFL Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Jonathan Beane said in a statement obtained by Today's Amy Eley and Samantha Kubota that Butker "gave a speech in his personal capacity."

Beane added: "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."

Video of Butker's speech went viral on social media due to the controversial opinions he expressed throughout, ranging from a woman's place in society to his stance against Pride celebrations in support of the LGBTQ+ community:

Per Eley and Kubota, Butker spoke directly to female graduates of Benedictine College and encouraged them to prioritize starting a family over pursuing a career, telling them that his wife's life "really started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother."

Butker also referred to Pride Month as a "deadly sin sort of pride," and he took aim at both birth control and fertility treatments, saying "there is nothing good about playing God with having children."

The NFL has rolled out several initiatives in recent years meant to promote equality and inclusivity in the sport of football, including those in support of women and the LGBTQ+ community.

While the NFL has given no indication that it intends to take any action against Butker for expressing his personal beliefs, thousands have signed a petition calling for the Chiefs to release him.

Butker, 28, has spent his entire seven-year NFL career with the Chiefs, winning three Super Bowls, including each of the past two.