Feb. 7, 2026, 1:04 p.m. ET

SANTA CLARA, California  — Malcolm Butler joined the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and went on to become a Super Bowl hero. His game-saving interception in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks secured the team’s victory.

He went on to win another Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2017, when New England came back from a large deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. But it was the year after that that changed Butler’s future with the Patriots.

In the Patriots’ loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LII, Butler was sidelined for nearly the entire game, leading to much speculation. However, the reason for this benching has never truly been revealed. And thus, his time in New England came to an end.

That’s where Mike Vrabel comes in.

In his first year as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel brought in Butler, signing him to a five-year deal.

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“It was kind of difficult when I first left the Patriots and to went to (Tennessee) because I was used to one team, one coach, the scheme, things like that,” he told Patriots Wire in an exclusive interview. “But things got better. And being around a good coach, you’ve got no choice but to get better.”

With that, the cornerback saw firsthand the type of coach Vrabel is.

“He’s a players’ coach,” Butler added. “He still tries to go out there, and like, he can play things like that. And good leaders lead the right way.”

So, when Vrabel took over as Patriots head coach one year ago, Butler was so happy to see it. But he could never have expected the team to have the success they did so quickly.

“Like I said, I didn’t know we were going to go to the Super Bowl, but I knew it’s going to be a big change around there because he’s a good coach,” Butler explained. “I played for him, and you can be a coach, but people got to believe the words that come out of your mouth. Everybody can’t coach. Everybody ain’t going to believe, so he’s a believable person.

“He’s a player’s coach, and he’s going to get the job done. And his door is always open if you want to talk to him about anything, but he’s going to make sure you do your job.”

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