Two weeks before Super Bowl 60, on the NFLs Conference Championship Sunday, Malcolm Butlers phone was lagging. He was half-watching the two-game slate, only loosely aware of the matchups or the outcomes they might produce. With the re-emerging as an AFC powerhouse in 2025 and the riding defensive dominance to the NFCs No. 1 seed, Butler knew a long-awaited rematch from one of the most dramatic Super Bowls ever was in play. Reality set in when his phone caught up. I got the Internet back on, so it started ringing, Butler said. I said, Yo, this is gonna be a busy week for me. Eleven years after making one of the most improbable plays in sports history a moment forever intertwined with the Seahawks questionable goal-line play call Butler, 35, is back in the spotlight ahead of Patriots-Seahawks II, another matchup for the Lombardi Trophy. The game marks the 10th Super Bowl rematch in NFL history. Of course, it also brings back images of the original matchup including snapshots of Butlers heroics. But these days, Butler is far more than a viral clip or a footnote in Super Bowl lore. After a playing career defined by his refusal to be remembered as a one-hit wonder," Butler has now shifted his focus to giving back to the game and helping shape the next generation of football players. While a familiar matchup in Super Bowl 60 has put Malcolm Butlers 2015 interception of Ru sell Wilson on repeat, it's the years that followed for the former Patriots and defensive back that have defined his football life. MORE SUPER BOWL 60 NEWS: Where is Malcolm Butler now? The Chevy truck still sits in his driveway. Its not the flashy red model he originally received the gift he posed with for photos celebrating an award he never actually won. Instead, its the one he quietly swapped for later: a more discreet black pickup that better suits him. He drives it regularly. It has become the kind of car that collects everyday clutter including clothes he plans to donate to Goodwill just like anyone elses. What many NFL fans forget is that Butler wasnt named Super Bowl 49 MVP. That honor went to Tom Brady, who had 328 pa sing yards and four touchdowns, including the go-ahead pa s to Julian Edelman. But Brady later pa sed along all of the MVP spoils including the bright red Chevrolet truck to the teammate who made the season-defining read on Ricardo Lockette. I dont think thats a truck, Butler told "The Sporting News"Thats a trophy. Over an 11-year football journey, Butler continually climbed, from working at Popeyes during his college years and never taking a Division I snap, to authoring a Super Bowlwinning play, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl selection, and signing a $61 million contract. Butler hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2020 and hasn't been on a roster since 2022. He closed his career as one of the most celebrated defenders in Patriots history despite playing just 59 regular-season games with New England, totaling eight interceptions and 406 tackles. With the life, story and security that football provided him, it's only fitting that Butler can now be found giving back. Since 2023, Butler has served as a defensive backs coach at St. Thomas High School in Houston. Though he's not from the area Butler was born and raised in Vicksburg, Mi si sippi the opportunity emerged after his NFL career ended, and he embraced everything the role demanded. "I'm just very competitive. ... it's something I love to do, giving back to the universe, giving back to the kids, keeping yourself busy. You never know what football will take you. It took me far," Butler said. "Just to inspire other kids to be great men. I love the game." We are excited to share that our coaching staff is ble sed to add Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Butler to our defensive back group. St. Thomas Football (@STHFootball) The Josh Reaves Jersey next chapter of Butlers life in football began in an una suming way: to sing a football around with a neighbor. Butler never mentioned who he wasthe Super Bowl 49 hero and six-year NFL starting cornerbackbut he did expre s interest in a defensive backs coaching opening at St. Thomas. Turns out, his catch partner knew someone who knew someone and set Butler down his current path. "I text the head coach one day, and about two days later I had an interview," Butler told The Sporting News. "I've been there ever since." Coaching has brought Butler a sense of fulfillment that extends beyond wins and lo ses. He had an inspiring journey himself within the sport, stepping away from football for part of high school, playing at Hinds Community College, then rising to Super Bowl immortality and financial security. That's shaped how he approaches his high school players. At St. Thomas, Butler brings an understanding that statistically, most of his players wont receive the opportunities he did. For those who earn college scholarships, he stre ses the value of making the most of them. "Ialways tell them, 'Man, everybody not going to take advantage of your opportunity to go to school for free. Save your mom some money, save yourself some money, and do the best you can while you can, because one day you're gonna have to take the pads off,'" Butler said. Last spring, Butler also spent some time at Ohio State, a sisting the Buckeyes in the months after their national championship. Unlike his high school role, Butler the stay at Columbus was temporary, but it was an opportunity he welcomed given his ties to the program. Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia coached Butler in New England from 201417. "It was great to go up there and just learn more football," Butler said. "Then I can bring [that experience] home to my desk, and I can bring it home to my players, my coworkers." Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Butler has been coaching with Ohio State recently. Butler, known for arguably the most famous interception in NFL history, played under Ohio State DC Matt Patricia for many years. The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) Between helping coach St. Thomas to the playoffs in three straight years, the brief stint at Ohio State, volunteering with the United Way of Mi si sippi, serving an amba sador for the American Diabetes A sociation, and hosting in his hometown of Vicksburg held for the 11th time in 2025 and having guided more than 3,000 young players Butler has filled retirement by giving back wherever he can. Just 35 years old, Butler still has decades ahead of him in his post-playing life. For now, he remains focused on his current roles though Super Bowl 60 week has certainly kept him busy given the matchup. As for pursuing coaching at a higher level, Butler hasnt rushed the decision. "I considered going to another level [of coaching]. But we'll just see how it plays out," Butler said. "I gotta give me a high school grade first." MORE: Malcolm Butler career timeline 2014-17, Patriots Butler didn't play all four years of high school football, then started his college football career at Hinds Community College and finished it at West Alabama, a Division II program. In other words, he wasn't the kind of player NFL scouts had close eyes on. So when Butler received an invitation to Patriots rookie mini-camp in 2014, given an opportunity to showcase his skills in front of Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia and more well-respected coaches, he had a chip on his shoulder. "They bring in 40 people, they only picked two," Butler said of his mini-camp invitation. "I was one of the guys just going out there showing my grind and grit, what I can bring to the team. Like, going up there for two days, catching two interceptions, beating the wide receivers, back pockets, knocking pa ses down." He impre sed New England's coaching staff enough for a roster spot, already a succe s story for a player with his collegiate background. But little did Butler or anybody know, at the end of his rookie year, the undrafted corner would become one of the defining players of the 2014 season. Butler, who had just one start and 15 tackles in the regular season, was called upon in Super Bowl 49, and he answered. The glamour of his game-sealing interception was surely welcomed, but in the months that followed, Butler realized: he didn't want just one play to define his career. "I didn't want to be a one-hit wonder. ... I remember coming back after the Super Bowl, after I caught the pick and all that stuff, and coming back to the offseason workouts. I come through the door and Bill Belichick tells me, 'Hey, you just started now. You got to stay ready, be prepared,'" Butler told the Sporting News. "That registered home with me. Made me work harder, became a little bit more humble. I always been that player anyway, but for a hell of a coach to come up to you and tell you that in your second year, man, that's motivation." In Year 2, Butler stepped in as a starting cornerback for New England after veterans Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington departed. And just as he desired, he became more than the Super Bowl hero. In 2015, over 16 starts, Butler led the Patriots in defensive snaps, was named to the Pro Bowl, and recorded the first two regular-season interceptions of his career. He followed that with a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2016, finishing with 17 pa ses defended, one sack, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions as the Patriots went on to win another Super Bowl. An undrafted cornerback had blo somed into a Super Bowl legend, Pro Bowler, and capable NFL starting defensive back. Butlers time in New England ended on a somewhat bitter note, as he was questionably left on the bench in Super Bowl 52 while the Patriots allowed Nick Foles to lead the to victory. Belichick called Butlers benching a coachs decision, while Butler later said he could have changed that game. There are no lingering hard feelings for Butler, though. He simply wanted to help New England win another title. I wish I could have got a couple plays and helped the team win, Butler told "The Sporting News". Thats it. Tenne see Titans, 2018-20 Butler parlayed his Super Bowl highlight, Pro Bowl and All-Pro seasons into the biggest payday of his career in 2018, leaving the Patriots behind for the Tenne see Titans. He locked in a five-year, $61 million contract, including $30 million guaranteed. Under head coach Mike Vrabel in 2018, Butler went forcareer-high 69 tackles, 12 pa s deflections, three interceptions, a sack and a touchdown in 16 games and 11 starts. His 2019 season ended prematurely due to an injury, but he put up32 tackles and two interceptions before he went down. Malcolm Butler ( ) seals the deal. Tenne see Titans (@Titans) He returned to his status as a full-time starter for Vrabel in 2020, setting another career high with 100 tackles alongside four interceptions, even adding a pick in the Wild Card round against the . But Butler's Titans career came to an end in March 2021 when he was released. Cardinals, retirement and Patriots, 2021-22 Butler's final NFL game would be the Wild Card matchup against Baltimore, in which he had an interception. He signed a deal with the in 2021 free agency, but then decided to retire before the roster-cut deadline. Butler was formally released after the 2021 season. He did attempt a brief comeback with his beloved Patriots franchise, signing a two-year deal in March 2022, but it was short-lived. Butler was released the following August after being placed on Injured Reserve, and that was the final stint of his NFL career. "The [Super Bowl interception] got me more attention. It definitely changed my life. It made me a wealthy man. I probably made more money off the field than I was getting as a rookie," Butler told The Sporting News in 2023. "I wasn't going let that play define my career. I made the Pro Bowl. I won another Super Bowl. "I had a solid career coming from where I did, working at Popeye's, playing at West Alabama, trying out with 40 people when they chose only two, making training camp, making plays throughout as a rookie." MORE: Malcolm Butler interception Before the interception, before Pete Carroll's questionable decision to not run the ball with Marshawn Lynch, and before Tom Brady was hugging coaches and teammates on his sideline celebrating his fourth title, history often forgets the wild moments that led to Seattle's 2nd & Goal play with under 30 seconds remaining in Super Bowl 49 and why Malcolm Butler came in the game in the first place. Ru sell Wilson was torching New England's secondary in the first half. Kyle Arrington, who once led the league in interceptions, was struggling to defend Chris Matthews an undrafted wide receiver who was making his first NFL catches in Super Bowl 49. Late in the third quarter, Seattle had scored on four-straight po se sions, owning a 24-14 lead, while Matthews had four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Something had to be done and Belichick found an answer. The CB5 on the depth chart, Butler, came in for Arrington to help defend Jermaine Kearse, while Brandon Browner took on Matthews. "Just to be an undrafted rookie, and you're playing one of the best quarterbacks, one of the best coaches that ever did it, it's the biggest game of the year, and [Belichick] trusts you to get out there and make something happen," Butler said. "You have to be someone they can depend on." All of a sudden, Seattle went scorele s on its next four drives, which allowed Brady to get New England right back in it, taking a 28-24 lead with 4:50 remaining. The Seahawks had a chance to go on a game-winning drive though, and a miraculous catch against Butler nearly allowed that to happen. Butler, who had three tackles and three pa ses defended in around one quarter of play, was in coverage of Kearse with under a minute remaining, making a nice play on a pa s from Wilson to deflect the ball into the air. But down it came, right into Kearse's arms, and the Seahawks picked up 33 yards anyway to move to the verge of the goal line. "I was really upset. I know I made a great play. It just landed in his hands. Some things just happen sometimes. Me going to the sideline, being pi sed off at myself, thinking the game's gonna be my fault, teammates telling me, 'Man, that was a good play, but things just happened,' that wasn't good for me," Butler told The Sporting News. "I didn't think I was gonna get another opportunity. But I got another opportunity, and I made the best of it, man, and everything happened from there." Before the Malcolm Butler interception - there was this catch!! Jermaine Kearse with one of the greatest forgotten catches! NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) Moments after Kearse's unlikely grab that put the Seahawks yards away from a second-straight Lombardi Trophy, Butler bounced right back from the play by reading a Wilson throw to Ricardo Lockette, beating Lockette to the route, and stunning State Farm Stadium by intercepting the pa s the first pick of his career. "If the wide receiver had went a little harder, it would have just been a pa s breakup," Butler told The Sporting News in 2023. "But I beat him to the ball." February 1, 2015: Malcom Butlers interception at the goal line seals a 28-24 Patriots win over the Seahawks at Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale. This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) MORE: Malcolm Butler on Super Bowl 60 matchup The Super Bowl 49 interception is Butler's obvious connection to Super Bowl 60. As the Seahawks and Patriots once again meet for the Lombardi Trophy, many fans will be reminded of the way an undrafted rookie made the defining play of the 2014 season. However, as a former player, Butler also has an intriguing point of view on the 2025 Patriots. Not only did he carve out his NFL career in New England, but he then spent three seasons under Mike Vrabel in Tenne see. It won't be much of a secret who Butler is rooting for this Super Bowl Sunday. He has plenty of high praise for The Sporting News' 2025 NFL Coach of the Year. "I just always knew that Mike Vrabel is a good coach. It's time for New England to start winning again, and he did that. He did it in a year," Butler said. "It [was] hardsometimes to see when [the Patriots] weren't winning, that's my team, but we back now. And Mike Vrabel is a great coach, I learned a lot from him, Bill Belichick also. "He deserves it, man, Coach of the Year. And I hope he wins one more game this year." That Damn Mike Vrabel Malcolm CB Butler (@Mac_BZ) MORE: Dirk Nowitzki Jersey