Patriots' Kraft: Belichick Benched Malcolm Butler for SB 52 Over 'Something Personal' | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Michael Green
Published Mar 24, 2026
The Malcolm Butler benching from Super Bowl LII has been given some more context.
In Friday's episodes of The Dynasty: New England Patriots, the Patriots 41-33 loss to the Eagles was examined, and this included Bill Belichick's controversial benching of the cornerback. Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke about the incident and revealed that it wasn't a "football-related" decision.
"What has been told to me is that there was something personal going on between Bill and Malcolm, that was not football related," Kraft said. "I always felt that every decision Bill had made had been to put what was in the best interests of the team first, and put emotion aside. But, with Malcolm, he did just the opposite."
Butler had made a name for himself when he made a game-saving interception in Super Bowl XLIX and had developed into an All-Pro level cornerback by that 2017 season. He had started the Patriots previous two games in that postseason run, but did not take a single defensive snap as the Patriots defense surrendered 538 yards and allowed the Eagles to possess the ball for 34:04. Butler only took the field for a single play on special teams during the game.
Patriots safety Devin McCourty had said that the team was aware that Butler would not be playing prior to the game, but Butler had been seen crying on the sidelines right before kickoff. He still claims to not know the reason he did not play and cited it as a "coaching decision."
"People still ask me," Butler said, "to this day. 'Why didn't you play in the Super Bowl?' 'I don't know, man, coach's decision.' . . . I really don't know. I really don't. Just to like leave me watching my team suffer when I know I could help like. Like, not one rep. Not one rep."
The Patriots would return to the Super Bowl the following year and defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in a masterful defensive performance. Butler was not around for this championship, as he signed with the Tennessee Titans in the offseason following the benching.
