- Malcolm Butler, New England Patriots, Super Bowl 2015
The hero of the 2015 Super Bowl is Malcolm Butler. In the last few seconds of the game, Butler intercepted the football on the 1 yard line securing a win for the New England Patriots.
The road to the Super Bowl took many turns for Butler including a lot of “no’s”.
Butler is from Vicksburg, Mississippi where he played football for 2 years in high school. After high school, he played 5 football games at Hinds Community College in Mississippi before being expelled from school.
Butler returned to Vicksburg and worked at the Popeye’s drive through window. Butler admitted that he needed to straighten out his life and was encouraged by his high school football coach. Butler eventually returned to Hinds Community College and played football for another year.
After Hinds Community College, Division 1 universities did NOT recruit Butler. The better football schools told Butler “no”. Instead, Butler went to a Division II school, West Alabama, to play football for his final 2 years of college eligibility. While at West Alabama, Butler played well and also had a job on campus.
The next step for Butler would be the NFL. What round did Malcolm Butler get selected in the draft last year? He was not drafted by an NFL team. The NFL told him “no”.
A few months later, one call did come for Malcolm Butler. The New England Patriots invited Butler to a mini-camp. Butler was nicknamed “Scrap” at the mini-camp and did make the team roster of 53 players. This season was Butler’s rookie year in the NFL.
Most men would have given up when told “no” by colleges and “no” by the NFL. Yet, Butler didn’t give up, he didn’t listen to the no’s. Malcolm Butler has perseverance and drive.
Do you have the courage to continue when someone tells you “no”? Remember Malcolm Butler the next time someone tells you “no” or that you can’t do something. Remember Butler’s perseverance and remember his victory in Super Bowl 2015.
Best,
Kathleen
