Malcolm Butler Announces Retirement; Pro Bowl CB Won Super Bowl 49 with Patriots

Former NFL cornerback Malcolm Butler formally announced his second retirement from the NFL.

"I am retired," Butler said Saturday, per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson. "I did the best I can do. Walking away from the game feeling comfortable. Everybody can do more, but I'm satisfied with my career. It's time to move on and transition."

Butler played seven NFL seasons for the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans. He has not appeared in a game since the 2020 season. The 34-year-old first retired in August 2021 before ever playing a down for the Arizona Cardinals before he returned to the Patriots in March 2022.

New England released Butler before the start of the 2022 season, and he's not signed with a team since. The Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons brought him in for workouts over the last two seasons but elected not to sign him.

Butler made one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro team during his career and was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots. The most notable play of his career came when he intercepted Russell Wilson at the goal line to clinch Super Bowl XLIX for New England.

Butler finished his career with 406 total tackles and 17 interceptions across 100 games played. While his career was shorter than most expected given his initial early retirement, it's nothing short of an unmitigated success for an undrafted free agent out of West Alabama.

Butler said he plans to write a book about his unlikely career.

"Oh man, it was great. To play with Tom Brady and to play with so many great players, win so many games, for the first four years and go to three Super Bowls," Butler said. "People play a long time and never got even close to a Super Bowl. To play with so may great players, it's truly a blessing. To be able to play for the Kraft family, man, good people."

Butler's official retirement comes in the same offseason as longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick's exit from the franchise.