“Malcolm, go!”
Malcolm Butler, who briefly rose to Patriots immortality after his game-winning interception in Super Bowl XLIX, is considering an NFL comeback, according to Mike Giardi,
Butler signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals last year, only to retire before the season started due to personal reasons. Arizona released Butler Thursday from the reserve/retire list, opening up the door him to come back and play.
“Butler has been working out diligently. Would expect a return,” Giardi tweeted.
While Butler’s interception put him on the map, the undrafted defensive back developed into the Patriots’ best cornerback for a period afterwards. He was named second team All-Pro in 2016.
Butler’s exit from the Patriots remains one of the more curious mysteries in recent franchise history. He didn’t play a single defensive snap in Super Bowl LII against the Eagles, even though they were moving the ball at will.
That offseason, Butler signed a five-year deal with the Titans worth $30 million guaranteed, but didn’t live up to his contract. Tennessee released Butler in March 2021.
The Patriots could be forced to remake their secondary this spring, especially if J.C. Jackson signs elsewhere as a free agent. Perhaps that could open the door for Butler’s return, assuming there are no hard feelings over his inexplicable benching.