Some NFL fans believe their reactions to Butker and Kaepernick differ.

Harrison Bartek’s controversial commencement speech and the ensuing reactions continue to dominate off-field discussions, with key figures in the NFL publicly speaking out for the first time this week.

Earlier this month, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker sparked a cultural war with his speech at Benedictine College, where he condemned abortion rights, Pride Month, COVID-19 lockdowns, “dangerous gender ideologies,” and the “tyranny of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” while also encouraging female graduates to embrace the “profession” of homemaker.

The speech has garnered nearly 2 million views on YouTube, resonating with some fans and conservative public figures, including Missouri Senator Josh Hawley. Bartek’s jersey sales skyrocketed online, becoming the top-selling jersey for the Chiefs.

However, the speech has drawn widespread criticism from various corners of the internet, including some current and former students of Catholic liberal arts colleges, affiliated nuns, Kansas City officials, and fans of Taylor Swift, after Bartek referred to Taylor Swift as “my teammate’s girlfriend” during the speech.

The National Football League (NFL) last week distanced itself from Bartek’s remarks in a brief statement, stating that Bartek’s comments were made “in a personal capacity,” and “his views do not represent those of the NFL as an organization.”

It added, “The NFL is steadfastly committed to inclusivity, which only makes our league stronger.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell echoed similar sentiments in an interview with reporters on Wednesday.

According to Yahoo Sports and the Associated Press, Goodell stated, “We have over 3,000 players. The league’s executives have as diverse viewpoints and thoughts as America. I think that’s something we cherish, and I think that ultimately makes us a better society.”

But some social media users quickly juxtaposed Goodell’s comments with his response to another high-profile controversy involving a football player exercising their right to self-expression: former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

When it comes to players’ self-expression, some argue there’s a double standard.

Kaepernick, who is biracial, began sitting during the national anthem at preseason games in 2016 to protest what he called “racial injustice in America.”

Throughout the remainder of the season, he continued to kneel during the anthem, inspiring some players but also drawing criticism from many, including then-President Donald Trump, who accused him of being anti-American.

Goodell criticized Trump’s remarks as “unfortunate lack of respect for the players,” but he himself also expressed similar criticisms of Kaepernick’s protest.

“I think it’s important if they see things they want to change in society, and clearly we have things that can get better in our society, and we should get better,” Goodell said when commenting on the protests for the first time in 2016. “But we have to choose respectful ways of doing that so that we can achieve the outcomes we ultimately want and do it with the values and ideals that make our country great.”

The following year, as the number of kneeling players and opposition to it grew, Goodell told NFL teams in a memo that “everyone should stand” during the anthem.

“The controversy over the anthem is a barrier to honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues,” he wrote. “We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.”

Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers in the spring of 2017 and has not been signed by any NFL team since, leading his supporters to accuse league owners of blackballing him because of his political beliefs. Kaepernick made similar allegations in a collusion grievance he filed against the NFL, which he withdrew after reaching a settlement in 2019.

Since then, he has not played professionally but has continued to work as a civil rights activist and writer.

In June 2020, amid protests against racial discrimination and police violence that rocked the United States, Goodell released a video statement condemning racism and acknowledging the league’s shortcomings in this area.

He said, “The NFL stands with the Black community, the players, clubs, and fans, confronting systemic racism and the other deeply rooted issues that have plagued our society for generations. We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest.” But he did not mention Kaepernick by name.

That summer, Goodell made a series of statements, including encouraging an NFL team to sign Kaepernick as a free agent and publicly apologizing.

He said, “Cap, I hope we’re listening, I hope we’re learning, but more importantly, I hope we’re acting.”

On Wednesday, former Twitter user and columnist questioned Goodell’s remarks as hypocritical, and loudly questioned Kaepernick’s perspective on the matter. Some acknowledged their situations were different because Kaepernick protested while in uniform during games, while Bartek spoke off the field.

Kaepernick has yet to comment publicly on Bartek’s speech or Goodell’s response.

Last week, as Bartek’s remarks stirred controversy, co-host of “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg, argued that Bartek and Kaepernick’s expressions should be equally respected.

“These are his beliefs, he’s welcome to them,” she said in reference to Bartek. “I don’t have to believe them, I don’t have to accept them, and the ladies sitting in the audience don’t have to accept them.

“Just as we want respect when Colin Kaepernick is taking a knee, we also want respect for those who have different ideas from ours, because that guy who said he wanted to be president… he said, the way to act is to take away people’s right to express how they feel. We don’t want to be those people, we don’t want to be those people.”

Some Chiefs leaders also spoke up for Bartek on Wednesday.

More Chiefs members acknowledged the controversy on Wednesday and defended Bartek.

Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters, “Some of the things he said I may not necessarily agree with, but I understand… he’s trying to guide people in the right direction.”

He added that he’s known Bartek for seven years and believes he’s a good person.

“I judge him based on the character he shows every day,” he said. “He’s someone who cares about people around him, cares about family, wants to make a positive impact on society.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also responded to the response to the speech but did not disclose its contents. He said he hadn’t discussed the matter with Bartek because “I don’t think we need to.”

“We’re a microcosm of life,” he said of the team. “Everyone comes from different areas, believes different religions, different races, so we coexist, we respect each other’s opinions, we don’t necessarily follow those opinions, but we respect everyone’s right to speak… I hope everyone can do that.