Malcolm Butler wasn’t used much until he became an NFL legend nine years ago when he intercepted Russell Wilson’s pass at the goal line with 20 seconds left in Super Bowl 49 against the Seahawks. He was an undrafted rookie.
Over the next two seasons, Butler established himself as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, and two years after his heroics, New England once again won the Super Bowl, miraculously defeating the Falcons 28-3. He contributed to a come-from-behind victory.
By the end of his fourth season, Butler found himself mysteriously benched for the 41-33 loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl II, but was never told why. It is claimed that
The surprising decision by Bill Belichick to not reveal why he benched Butler will be the subject of the ninth episode of Apple TV+’s documentary series “The Dynasty: New England Patriots,” directed by director and producer. Matthew Hamacek of the team says Belichick’s decision caused a rift within the team.
“What the players are actually talking about at least is the incredible tension between Bill and Tom.” [Brady] By that point until the Eagles Super Bowl,” Hamacek said. “Maggie and Perloff” on CBS Sports Radio. “So at the end of the day, what happens if we lose? What happens if that aspect of this story where winning would solve everything doesn’t happen?
“And one journalist we talked to was actually in the locker room after the Super Bowl against the Eagles. And he said, half-jokingly, half-seriously, how much that loss meant to them. He said he felt like there was a revolt within the team after that loss because he felt like he gave everything to each and every one of his players. “I felt like I was taking a gamble,” he said, adding that he was not even given an explanation at the time of why the decision was made, “I feel like I was cheated.” Slightly. ‘”
Hamacek said in an appearance on WEEI earlier this month that there was “no definitive answer” as to why Butler was off the bench, but on the March 15th broadcast, he revealed how much the move meant to the locker room. It seems that it will become clear what caused the conflict.
“I asked almost everyone sitting in the chair, people who were around and people who weren’t around, when this happened, and a lot of people didn’t know,” Hamacek said. ” said.
“In episode 9 dealing with this issue, there’s a guy who I think gave the biggest hint ever as to why this happened. More importantly, there’s a guy who’s sitting in a chair talking to the players who were there. From a perspective, I think you start to realize how mentally exhausting it was to be a part of the Patriot program. They all knew every year they could compete for a championship, so they accepted it and got through it. I think it was.”
A year after that controversial decision, the Patriots lifted the Lombardi Trophy again by defeating the Rams in Super Bowl LIII in Tom Brady’s penultimate season with the team.
But Butler wasn’t around. He signed a five-year, $61 million contract with the Titans in free agency with $30 million guaranteed.
The Titans released him in early 2021 after three seasons, and the 33-year-old hasn’t played in the NFL since.
After leaving the Titans, he signed with the Cardinals, but retired before the 2021 season due to personal reasons.
Butler came out of retirement and returned to the Patriots in 2022, but was released before the season.
