Chiefs’ Harrison Butker Prays For Struggling Bears After New Pope Brings Hope

The Chicago Bears haven’t won a Lombardi Trophy in almost 40 years. Once a formidable force in the NFL with a trophy case full of historic victories and legends preserved in Canton, it has turned into an annual exercise in wasted potential and what-ifs. The franchise has struggled with quarterback blunders, coaching changes, and postseason heartbreak since its historic 1985 Super Bowl victory. Their last Super Bowl appearance came in 2006. In contrast to their NFC North competitors, it has largely been wilderness since then.

Their last shot? To turn to hope. In Chicago, people typically save their hope for the weather, the draft, or divine intervention. And now that the Vatican has a new Pope with a Bears fandom twist, kicker Harrison Butker seems to be leaning towards the last one.

In Nashville, the devoted Catholic kicker talked candidly about his and his kids’ personal bond with the new American pope at a special live episode of The LOOPcast, which included Fr. Mike Schmitz, Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, and Butker himself. “Isn’t that cool that our pope is a Bears fan, you know,” Butker said with a smile. “I just think it’s so cool and it’s kind of surreal, you know. I, for all of our children for the next 20, maybe 30 years, they’re going to grow up with a pope who likes the same food as them…so very cool to relate that well to the Pope for sure.”

Pope Leo XIV is apparently a Chicago Bears fan. Butker interpreted this heavenly coincidence as a hint of something deeper. A spiritual awakening for a franchise that has been stuck in gloom. “Hopefully that’ll help them get you know deep in the playoffs,” Butker added.

And this wasn’t the first time that Harrison Butker shared his excitement about Pope Leo XIV. He posted a heartfelt post for Pope Leo XIV on Instagram on May 9th to commemorate his election. The post was about hope, rebirth, and faith in organisations that have endured hardships and are still strong. Butker captioned his post with: “O God, the shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look down favorably upon Thy servant Pope Leo XIV… grant, we beseech Thee, that he may benefit both by word and example those over whom he is set.”

Recently, when Vice President JD Vance visited the Vatican, he brought a uniquely American gift: a navy blue Chicago Bears jersey bearing the name ‘Pope Leo’ and the number XIV. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV, reportedly smiled and said it was a “good choice.” While the Vatican made no official comment on his sports allegiances, the image of the Chicago-born pope holding a Bears jersey resonated deeply among fans of a franchise long in search of a turning point.

His ties to Chicago sports run deeper than a single photo op. According to his brother, John Prevost, Pope Leo XIV has long been a White Sox fan and attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Earlier this month, the White Sox honored him with a graphic installation at Guaranteed Rate Field, acknowledging his attendance at that historic win. His quiet association with the Bears—now affirmed through the symbolic jersey exchange—has offered the team’s supporters a new, if unlikely, emblem of hope.

Silent signals: Is Harrison Butker calling out Travis Kelce?

However, not everyone in Butker’s inner circle might be chanting ‘Amen.’ While it might seem harmless to pray for the Bears, another incident from The LOOPcast is causing tension among the defending Super Bowl winners, specifically for Travis Kelce. Butker criticised the culture of NFL celebrations without naming names, “If our Lord was playing in the NFL… would he be someone scoring a touchdown and then celebrating and dancing, making it all about him?”

The message was clear: humility should be the response to achievement, not a dance break with the camera in front of you. And that ideology is in direct conflict with Kelce, who is the camera-facing dance break. Kelce’s brand is large, loud, and unapologetic, from his ‘Fight for Your Right’ mic drop during the Super Bowl parade to his imitative goalpost slam following his 77th career touchdown. “We all know how iconic it was when he dunked the ball over the goalposts all the time. I gave it my best effort. I’m not sure I did it quite like him,” Kelce said after that game. However, the NFL fined him $14,000 for the iconic dunk.

But Butker favours silent appreciation and skyward finger points. He celebrated with solemnity after making three important kicks in Super Bowl LVIII. And it wasn’t an accident. “Whenever I feel nervous or anxious, I turn to God more than any other time,” he stated. Safe to say, the kicker with an 89.1% career field goal success rate has built his reputation on precision and poise, not personality.

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