Patriots Super Bowl Hero Announces Retirement
Former New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler will forever be remembered for living the moment which most athletes dream of, yet seldom achieve.
With 20 seconds remaining in Super Bowl XLIX, the Seattle Seahawks were in position to score on the Patriots' one-yard line. Poised to erase a four-point New England lead, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson attempted to find wide receiver Ricardo Lockette on a slat route at the goal line. Butler got the quick jump on Lockette and intercepted Wilson’s pass, returning possession to the Patriots and preserving a 28-24 victory and New England’s fifth Super Bowl championship.
Butler, now 34 years old and nine years removed from that fateful Sunday in Glendale Arizona, has officially retired from the NFL.
“I am retired,” Butler told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. “I did the best I can do. Walking away from the game feeling comfortable. Everybody can do more, but I’m satisfied with my career. It’s time to move on and transition.”
Photo Cred: The Associated Press
In addition to his ‘claim to fame’ moment in Super Bowl XLIX, Butler spent 2014 to 2017 with the Patriots, spending much of that time as the team’s top player at the position. In his four-years with the Patriots, Butler amassed 205 total tackles, 47 passes-defensed, four forced fumbles [of which he recovered two] and eight interceptions. In New England, he became a two-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI), a second-team All-Pro (2016), a Pro Bowl selection (2015); all of which earned him a spot on the New England Patriots 2010s All-Decade Team.
However, his New England tenure came to an acrimonious end at the conclusion of the 2017 season by getting benched in Super Bowl LII. It would be Butler’s final game with the team.
Butler and the Patriots lost Super Bowl LII to the Philadelphia Eagles, 41–33. Butler did not play any defensive snaps in the game, only coming in for a single play on special teams. After the game, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said his lack of playing time was a "coach's decision," and not due to disciplinary issues as many have speculated.
When asked by Wilson about the benching, Butler reiterated his coach’s sentiments at the time, while indicating that a forthcoming memoir may shed some additional light on the subject, as well.
“Oh man, it was just a coach’s decision,” Butler said. “Whenever I drop the book, I’ll put more details into. For the most part, it was a coach’s decision.”
In March 2018, Butler signed a five-year, $61 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. During his three years in Music City, he continued to play at a high level, compiling 201 total tackles, 35 passes-defensed and nine interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. After being cut by the Titans in March 2021, Butler signed a deal with the Arizona Cardinals. However, he was with Arizona for a few only a few months in 2021 before ending the comeback bid in August.
Butler attempted one last career revival when signing a two-year deal with the Patriots in the 2022 offseason. Unfortunately his second tour of duty with the Patriots came to an end approximately six months later. The Patriots released Butler with an injury settlement toward the end of training camp.
As he heads into retirement, Butler is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance within Patriots Nation, thanks to his involvement with “The Dynasty,” a 10-part AppleTV+ docuseries chronicling the Patriots two-decade rise to dominance. During the series’ latter episodes, Butler provides his thoughts on his fame-claiming interception, his controversial benching and his time wearing a Patriots uniform.
Even as he announced the end to his NFL career, Butler was still awash with smiles as he spoke of his Patriots tenure.
“Oh man, it was great to play with Tom Brady and to play with so many great players, win so many games, for the first four years and go to three Super Bowls,” Butler said. “People play a long time and never got even close to a Super Bowl. To play with so may great players, it’s truly a blessing. To be able to play for the Kraft family, man, good people.”
