Harrison Butker's Kansas City Chiefs jersey among 'most popular' on the NFL's store - despite his 'f***ing horrible' speech at college graduation

Harrison Butker's Kansas City Chiefs jersey is among the 'most popular' on the NFL's official store, despite ongoing backlash against his recent controversial speech at a college graduation ceremony.

The three-time Super Bowl winner gave the commencement speech at Kansas' Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school, on Saturday.

He congratulated the women receiving degrees and said most of them were probably more excited about getting married and having children. He also said some Catholic leaders were 'pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.'

Butker, whose own mother is an accomplished physicist, also criticized Pride month and President Joe Biden's stance on abortion.

The controversial speech has attracted fierce backlash but it seems Butker still has plenty of fans on his side after his Chiefs jersey appeared to be among the most wanted merchandise on NFL.com.

He currently wears No. 7 for the Chiefs and his jersey boasted the tab 'most popular in jerseys', alongside Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey's replicas.

In a statement on Thursday, Jonathan Beane - the NFL's senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer - said: 'Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity.

'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.'

Butker delivered his roughly 20-minute address at the Catholic private liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, which is located about 60 miles (97 kilometers) miles north of Kansas City. 

He received a standing ovation from some graduates and other attendees. 

'I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,' Butker said.

'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 the children you will bring into this world.

'I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.'

Butker said that his wife embraced 'one of the most important titles of all. Homemaker.'

The 28-year-old referred to a 'deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it' in an oblique reference to Pride month. 

Butker also took aim at Biden's policies, including his condemnation of the Supreme Court's reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and advocacy for freedom of choice - a key campaign issue in the 2024 presidential race.

Butker also tackled Biden's response to Covid-19, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

'While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,' he said.

'Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.'

A graduate of Benedictine College posted her response to Butker's controversial speech on TikTok, saying it was 'f***ing horrible.' 

Fresh from receiving her diploma, Susannah Leisegang said: 'Alright... Well, since I have about two hundred of y'all, congratulating me and asking me what the f*** I was thinking during the speech, I thought I'd respond... uhm, yeah it was f***ing horrible,' she said at first. 

'Some of us did boo. Me and my roommate definitely did. There was a standing ovation from everyone in the room. Except from me, my roommate and about 10 to 15 other women. 

'You also have to keep in mind this was at a Catholic and conservative college. So, a lot of the men were like, ''F*** yeah.'' They were excited.

'But it was horrible. Most of the women were looking back and forth at each other like, ''what the f*** is going on? Like, did he just come here to speak about politics and his views on women? That's all you got for graduation, commencement speech. Are you kidding?' 

On Thursday, former California first lady Maria Shriver, who's also the ex-wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and other celebrities criticized Butker for his remarks.

The Los Angeles Chargers also trolled the three-time Super Bowl champion upon the announcement of their schedule for the 2024 NFL season. 

Kansas City's X account also weighed on its kicker's comments, as well as the NFL.

A viral petition demanding the Chiefs to dismiss Butker has now gathered 174,000 signatures.