Little did New England Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler know that, due to his game-saving interception with 20 seconds left in Super Bowl 49, his name would be etched into Super Bowl memories for a lifetime.
Butler was simply trying to make a play, and he delivered. When the Patriots’ defender bumped Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette out of the way, his interception allowed the Patriots to secure a 28-24 win.
How, though, did the play unfold, giving Patriots head coach Bill Belichick another Super Bowl championship?
Looking Back at Malcolm Butler’s Iconic Super Bowl 49 Interception for the Patriots
What is notable about Butler is that he was not the starting cornerback for New England at the time. In fact, Butler was fifth on the depth chart for the Patriots’ cornerbacks.
Patriots defender Kyle Arrington struggled to contain Seattle wide receiver Chris Matthews. Matthews was catching passes consistently from Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, giving Seattle momentum against New England.
Finally, Patriots Belichick made a decision. He put Butler into the game and had him cover Jermaine Kearse. Then, Brandon Browner moved over to handle Matthews.
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With time ticking away in the third quarter, the Seahawks had taken a 24-14 lead. But after Belichick’s adjustments in the secondary, Seattle failed to score on its next four drives. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who was named Super Bowl 49 MVP, helped his team take a 28-24 lead with less than five minutes remaining
With under a minute left, Butler tipped a Wilson pass into the air, but the ball fell into Kearse’s hands. The play moved Seattle 33 yards downfield, putting the Seahawks in range of the goal line.
Butler, however, would have his redemption. He perfectly read a pass play in which Wilson was targeting Lockette in the end zone to give Seattle the lead and essentially clinch a Super Bowl victory. Once Butler caught the ball, he went down to the turf at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Later, cameras captured Brady jumping up and down on the Patriots’ sideline, celebrating a play that will live forever not only in Patriots’ lore but in Super Bowl history as well.
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The Patriots and Seahawks will renew their rivalry in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
