CINCINNATI – Hakeem Butler missed the phone call, but not the opportunity.
The Offensive Player of the Year in the UFL, Butler was working out in hopes of getting another shot to play in the NFL when his agent called and left him a couple of messages that the Cincinnati Bengals were interested.
“He only calls me when there’s money and opportunity involved, so I got out of the workout and called him and was like, ‘What’s up? Where we going? What’s the deal?’” Butler said.
With Ja’Marr Chase holding in and sitting out training camp practices, the Bengals were looking to add another wide receiver, and Butler was an intriguing option.
Hakeem Butler’s Viral Moment Foreshadowed Landing With Bengals
His agent called Wednesday, Butler was on a plane Thursday, and he worked for the Bengals Friday, impressing the team enough to be signed.
A fourth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, Butler has appeared in two games — both with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 — and has yet to catch a pass.
The 6’5″, 227-pound receiver also made stops in the Canadian Football League with the British Columbia Lions and Edmonton Elks, along with two stints with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL in 2023 and UFL in 2024, along with some time with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023.
“Everybody has a different route to get to where they want to go,” Butler said. “I’m no different than the next man. I’ve just had a little more trials and tribulations.”
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In addition to helping the Battlehawks — and former Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron — reach UFL championship game this spring and winning the league’s Offensive Player of the Year Award, Butler got a huge boost from a viral video clip.
It involved San Antonio Brahmas head coach Wade Phillips coming up to him after the championship game and telling Butler he belonged in the NFL.
"I'm going to tell everyone in the NFL that I talk to, you need to be playing."@XFLBrahmas' HC Wade Phillips shares a heartfelt moment with @410Keem pic.twitter.com/FpxBE7HULO
— United Football League (@TheUFL)
“Coach Wade obviously is a legend in this business,” Butler said. “I think every coach I’ve ever played with has told me something like that, so it’s kind of weird. I thought that was a private moment and to see it blow up was kind of crazy to me. But I’m definitely thankful for him and I guess that clip as well.”
Asked what he thinks he proved by winning the OPOY award, Butler said he didn’t know.
“I wasn’t really trying to prove anything to anybody,” he said. “I told my coaches going into the year, ‘I’m trying to have fun and be the best me that I know I can be.’ Everybody has their own opinion of me, so I let those people formulate whatever opinion they have. Hopefully, I proved something. I came here and worked out and signed, so I’m happy about that.”
Butler said the intensity of the workout Friday and the emotions expended knowing so much was on the line — not to mention the fact that he didn’t know any plays yet — led to him not participating in Friday’s practice.
But he said he spent Saturday’s off day studying the playbook, and it didn’t take long for him to make an impact in tonight’s practice.
In his first 11-on-11 period, Butler caught a deep pass from backup quarterback Jake Browning, beating rookie cornerback Josh Newton. He used a subtle push-off on the rookie to get separation as the ball arrived, but it’s doubtful it would have been called had it occurred in a game.
Butler stayed on the field for the third time and caught a pass from Logan Woodside, and he added another reception from Browning in 7-on-7.
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He said he arrived in Cincinnati not knowing any of the players and the coaches, but he said trying to catch on quickly is something he’s gotten used to.
“It’s a bit difficult for some people, but for me, I’ve moved around a lot in life,” Butler said. “I’ve been on a lot of different teams, a lot of different situations, different countries. So it’s nothing new. It’s another opportunity to expand and grow myself more.
“The only thing I can ask for is an opportunity,” he added. “What I do with it from there is on me.”
