Harrison Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker, has signed a 4-year, $26 million extension, making him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal, which includes $17.75 million guaranteed, follows a season where Butker excelled in key kicking metrics and helped secure another Super Bowl victory for the Chiefs.

Butker’s contract comes shortly after a public backlash over his commencement speech at Benedictine College. In his address, Butker spoke about the importance of his wife and faith and criticized Pride Month and President Biden’s pro-abortion policies. This led to significant outrage and a Change.org petition with nearly 240,000 signatures calling for his release from the Chiefs, citing his comments as “sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion, and racist.”

Despite the controversy, Butker remained resolute. At the Courage Under Fire gala in Nashville, he addressed the backlash, stating that the “shocking level of hate” would not deter him from being unapologetic about his faith. He remarked, “If it wasn’t clear that the timeless Catholic values are hated by many, it is now.”

The Chiefs organization and Butker’s teammates have shown unwavering support. Butker’s new contract underscores not only his exceptional performance on the field but also his determination to stand by his personal convictions amidst public scrutiny.