Remember Malcolm Butler? He was the hero of Super Bowl XLIX and was famously benched in Super Bowl LII. What’s he up to these days? Let’s check in with the former Pro Bowl cornerback.
Where are former Patriots now? CB Malcolm Butler (2014-2017, 2022)
Butler last appeared on an NFL roster in 2022 and declared himself officially retired in 2024. These days, he’s working as a football coach at St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas.
St. Thomas hired Butler in 2023 to help with defensive backs group. He’s currently listed as the school’s defensive backs coach. You can check out some photos of him working with players on the field on his Instagram page.
“Been doing that for two years,” Butler said to 98.5 The Sports Hub in February. “Just trying to be above water and thank God and just living. Life after football, just living. Taking care of yourself, mental, physically and just being me.”
Butler was back in Foxborough on a couple of occasions this past season. He was the Keeper of the Light (lighthouse bell-ringer) before a game this year. He was also present for the Super Bowl XLIX reunion and Tom Brady’s induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Butler had an unlikely path to the NFL. A native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, he played at Hinds Community College and eventually Division II West Alabama.
Butler wasn’t on NFL radars heading into the 2014 draft and went unpicked. Eventually, the Patriots invited him to their rookie minicamp. The unheralded rookie impressed the team with a strong camp and eventually earned a spot on the roster.
The young cornerback played sparingly as a rookie. He eventually had his breakout moment in Super Bowl XLIX when he ran onto the field as part of New England’s goal line stand against the Seattle Seahawks.
With the final seconds of the game ticking away, Butler famously jumped a pass from Russell Wilson intended for Ricardo Lockette. It remains one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.
Butler continued to carve out a solid career with New England. He became a full-time starter in 2015, earning his lone career Pro Bowl nod. He won his second Super Bowl as part of the 2016 team.
In 2017, Butler’s relationship with New England started to fray. The troubles culminated when Butler was mysteriously benched for Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Neither Butler nor Bill Belichick have ever come forward with a conclusive explanation for the decision.
In 2018, Butler left in free agency to sign with the Tennessee Titans. The cornerback struggled to match his usual performance and became a target of heavy criticism in Tennessee.
The Titans cut Butler after three seasons. Shortly after, he signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals. However, Butler never played a snap for Arizona. Just before the start of the 2021 NFL season, Butler announced that he was retiring due to personal reasons.
Butler came out of retirement in 2022 and returned to New England. However, he sustained an injury during training camp and was placed on injured reserve. That marked his last appearance on an NFL roster.
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