Malcolm Butler, author of perhaps the greatest interception in Super Bowl history, is attempting an NFL comeback nearly seven months after his sudden retirement due to personal reasons. A former All-Pro selection, Butler is headed to Foxboro Monday for a tryout with his former team, the New England Patriots, whom he played for from 2014-17. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe was the first to report Butler's visit.
Butler rose to prominence as an undrafted rookie in 2014, clinching the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX victory with a goal-line interception of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. The 32-year-old won another Super Bowl in 2016, but was benched in Super Bowl LII the following year, limited to a single special-teams snap in a loss to Philadelphia. That decision was the subject of much controversy, with many citing Butler’s absence as a contributing factor in New England’s 41-33 defeat. The circumstances surrounding Butler’s surprise demotion remain a mystery, with neither party offering much clarity in the years since.
Butler left the Patriots that offseason, joining Tennessee on a five-year, $61.5-million deal in free agency. He went to training camp with the Cardinals last summer, but retired before ever playing a game for them. Butler was granted his release in February, allowing the cornerback to explore free agency.
New England’s once-vaunted secondary has lost much of its star power following the recent departures of Pro Bowler J.C. Jackson (now a Los Angeles Charger) and former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, with the latter dealt to Carolina at last year’s NFL trade deadline. Along with Butler, the Patriots are also hosting veteran running back Leonard Fournette, who won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2020.
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