09 February 2024 , 01:00
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At Super Bowl LVIII, the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will go head-to-head for the prestigious Lombardi Trophy.
While many eyes will be on the clash between quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy, the game could hinge on two other players. The kickers, Harrison Butker and Jake Moody.
Both have had their moments this season but Moody, a rookie, doesn't have as big a contract as Butker, despite the pressure just as high.
In his first year, the 24 year old has earned £570,000 this season, plus a signing bonus of £163,000. This brings his total earnings to £733,000 for the year. By the end of his contract in 2026, he'll have made a total of £4.15 million.
Meanwhile, Butker - consistently one of the league's best kickers - is in the fourth year of a five-year deal with the Chiefs, worth £15.3 million. This season, the 28 year old's base salary was £2.66 million. With bonuses, his earnings for the year will total £3.9 million.
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In his final year, Butker will earn a base salary worth more than Moody's base salary for the next three seasons combined ($3,546,570).
Despite their occasional role on the field, kickers are well rewarded because they often find themselves in high-pressure situations during games, with the result often depending on their performance. And on Sunday one may be face with the prospect of a game-winning field goal or extra point for the biggest prize in the sport.
During a match between the Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City were leading by three points in the final moments of the fourth quarter. With the game hanging in the balance, Bills kicker Tyler Bass tried to tie the game but missed, handing the win to the Chiefs.
After the game, Bass and his family were subjected to abuse on social media and even received death threats from angry fans. The kicker had to disable his social media accounts to avoid further scrutiny and insults from upset fans. It shows why being a kicker can be both rewarding and risky.
Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs is one of the better-paid kickers in the NFL (GETTY)If a kicker performs well in the playoffs and helps a team win the Super Bowl, like Butker has, then he will be remembered throughout NFL history. However, if a kicker fails in a high-pressure situation, like Bass, he will face the wrath of angry fans, who won't hesitate to hurl insults and derogatory terms.
Fans often forget the events leading up to a poor kick in a football match. However, if the kick is successful, it might be remembered as part of the game's broader context. Despite the high rewards associated with being a kicker, the risks are incredibly high, particularly during the most important match of the year.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.