Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler’s career appears as if it is over.
The Arizona Cardinals officially placed Butler on the reserve/retired list on Tuesday, signaling the likely end to the 31-year-old’s career.
It was reported on Monday that Butler was dealing with a personal issue that had him mulling retirement and that he had been away from the facility over the last week.
The Cardinals had signed Butler to a one-year deal in the offseason.
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Butler spent the last three seasons with the Tennessee Titans where he had nine interceptions, including four last season which tied a career high, but was released early from his five-year contract as a cap casualty.
Of course, Butler is most known for his days with the New England Patriots, where he cemented himself in Patriots lore with his goal-line interception of Russell Wilson to win Super Bowl XLIX.
Butler’s time with the Patriots came to an unceremonious end, though, as he was mysteriously benched from Super Bowl LII — a 41-33 loss to the Eagles. Butler did not play a single defensive snap all game and appeared for one special teams play.
Bill Belichick called the benching a “coach’s decision,” while Butler was seemingly miffed by the decision, which still does not realy have a clear-cut answer as to why he was benched.
If Butler’s career is indeed over, he finishes with 17 career interceptions, two touchdowns, 82 pass deflections, three sacks and 406 tackles over seven seasons in the NFL, as well as two Super Bowl rings.
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