Undrafted Malcolm Butler Emerges as Patriots' Unlikely Super Bowl Hero

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The New England Patriots were in an all-too-familiar situation. Glendale, Arizona. Super Bowl. A ridiculous, game-changing catch.

But the Patriots weren't ready to surrender the game as they did versus the New York Giants after the heartbreaking David Tyree catch in Super Bowl XLII.

With the Seattle Seahawks threatening from one yard out, the Patriots defense got a stop. Future Hall of Famer Tom Brady earned his record-tying fourth Super Bowl championship, thanks to an undrafted free agent from the University of West Alabama.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Most football fans had never even heard of University of West Alabama until the final seconds of Super Bowl XLIX (it's in Livingston, Alabama). Even fewer fans had heard of Malcolm Butler. After Jermaine Kearse made an amazing catch while on his back with Butler in coverage to put the Seahawks down to the 5-yard line, someone needed to make a play. 

Linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower did their part on first down, stopping Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line. And on second down, Butler became a legend while redeeming himself for the Kearse catch just two plays prior. Like Chandler Jones said, "Malcolm did a good job of just swallowing that play and moving on to the next play, and he won us the game."

How did he win them the game? In the locker room, Butler said, "I expected them to run it. You're on the goal line."

But he said he knew they were throwing the ball when the Seahawks came out in a "stacked" formation. Was he prepared for it? Butler said, "I got beat on that same route in practice. This week in practice, actually."

The Patriots were prepared, and Butler had a "vision" he would make the play. And then he did, jumping the route and clinching the Patriots' fourth Super Bowl win.

"

VINE - Malcolm Butler had a vision he'd make a big play https://t.co/D2LFKbecVK

— FanSided GIF (@FanSidedGIF) February 2, 2015"

So how do you go from undrafted free agent who played in just 187 snaps during the regular season to making the biggest play of your life in the Super Bowl? In your first Super Bowl? We actually saw this last year, with seventh-rounder Malcolm Smith winning the MVP award after making a key interception for the Seahawks in their win over the Denver Broncos.

Super Bowl MVPs and the players who make Super Bowl wins possible come from all backgrounds and draft positions. As Butler said, "I always knew that I could play in this league, and, with dedication and hard work, it doesn't matter where you come from. It's what you do when you get here."

We talk a lot about the brilliance of Bill Belichick to hand the ball to another unwanted when he turned to Brady back in 2001. But this is what the Patriots do. "Do your job" is a famous line from Belichick, and with the game on the line, the unwanted kid from West Alabama did his job.

Maybe Kyle Arrington, a player who struggled in coverage on Chris Matthews in Sunday's game, put it best: "To make that kind of play at the end of the game, I couldn't think of a better guy to do it."

"Unbelievable play by Malcolm," Brady said. "We didn't call a timeout, and the clock was winding down, and we realized, you know, this is basically it, if we stop them. I saw the interception and couldn't believe it.

"It was just an incredible play. You know, what a play. A championship play. My guys made them. A lot of guys just did some great stuff out there. Took everybody. We knew it was going to take everybody. It was a 60-minute game. Just proud of how everybody played."

A championship play. Malcolm Butler, from tiny West Alabama, made the play that definitively clinches the "dynasty" label for the New England Patriots.