CB Malcolm Butler comes out of retirement to rejoin Patriots on 2-year deal

He signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals in 2021 and then stepped away, never appearing in a game for them.

The Arizona Cardinals signed cornerback Malcolm Butler last offseason thinking he would be one of their starting cornerbacks. However, before the season began, due to personal reasons, Butler left the team and was considered retired. He was placed on the reserve for retired players.

After the season, the Cardinals released him from that list, as he was seeking a return to the NFL after a year hiatus.

He is officially back. As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he is returning to the New England Patriots, the team that drafted him originally, on a two-year contract worth $9 million.

Butler entered the league in 2014 with the Patriots and was a Super Bowl hero, intercepted Russell Wilson at the goalline to seal the Patriots’ championship.

He signed a four-year contract with the Tennessee Titans and was released last offseason before signing a one-year deal with the Cardinals. After training camp, he retired, never suiting up for Arizona.

Now he returns to the Patriots.

The question that remains is whether he will address why he stepped away from the Cardinals and then returned after one year.

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