Malcolm Terel Butler is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played his first four seasons with the Patriots, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
After leaving New England, he was a member of the Tennessee Titans for three seasons. Butler retired ahead of the 2021 season but returned to the Patriots the following year.
A two-time Super Bowl winner and Pro Bowl selection during his Patriots tenure, Butler is best known for his goal-line interception in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLIX.
The interception, which prevented a go-ahead touchdown and effectively ensured the Patriots’ victory, is regarded as one of the greatest plays in NFL history.
In Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills, Butler recorded two interceptions off of passes thrown by Josh Allen during the 42–16 win.
Butler got his third interception of the season by picking off Mike Glennon in a 31–10 Week 14 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers, Butler recorded his fourth interception of the season off a pass thrown by Aaron Rodgers during the 14–40 loss.
In the Wild Card round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens, Butler intercepted a pass thrown by Lamar Jackson during the 13–20 loss.
On March 10, 2021, the Titans released Butler. On March 30, 2021, Butler signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
On August 31, 2021, Butler decided to retire due to personal reasons. The Cardinals placed Butler on the reserve/retired list on the same day. On February 18, 2022, the Cardinals formally released Butler.
Butler signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots on March 24, 2022, coming out of retirement. He was placed on injured reserve on August 16, 2022. He was released on August 25, 2022.