KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rookie Harrison Butker picked up the AFC special teams player of the week award for the second time this season following his five field goal performance against the Miami Dolphins Sunday.
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker connects on a field goal against the Oakland Raiders during the team’s 26-15 win at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 10, 2017. (Photo by Justin Olson, ChiefsDigest.com)
Butker becomes the third rookie in team history to win multiple player of the week honors. Wide receivers and kick returners Tyreek Hill (2016) and Tamarick Vanover (1995) also pulled off the feat.
The Chiefs rookie kicker also set a new franchise record for field goals in a season. His five field goals on Sunday boosted his season total to 36. That eclipsed the former mark of 34 field goals by Nick Lowery set during the 1990 season.
Butker booted five field goals against the Dolphins. That matched his career high set in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, for which he also won player of the week honors. He missed a chance at sixth field when a 46-yard attempt fell short of the crossbar.
The 2017 season is turning into a golden age of sorts for field goal kickers. Butker’s 36 field goals rank tied for 12th in league history for most field goals made in a season. Yet Butker ranks only third in the league this year, following Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein with 38 and San Francisco’s Robbie Gould with 37.
Adding the three field goals made by former kicker Cairo Santos during the first weeks of the season gives the Chiefs 39 field goals on the season. That ranks tied for third in NFL history. San Francisco made 44 in 2011 while Arizona made 43 in 2005.
Butker also ranks sixth in the NFL in scoring with 133 points and leads the league with 40 attempts.
Most amazing of all, Butker achieved these totals in just 12 games. Butker did not join the Chiefs until Week 4 signed as a replacement for the injured Santos.
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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