Malcolm Butler undrafted underdog to creating Disney magic in Super Bowl, how one game changed his life, playing for Bill Belichick, emotions sitting out vs Eagles in SBLII loss, Patriots dynasty, NFL regret, coaching high school football and fatherhood

Dec 12, 2025

Malcolm Butler, a two-time Super Bowl champion and former NFL cornerback, shares an inspiring journey from being an undrafted rookie to making a life-changing interception in Super Bowl XLIX. He discusses the rigorous path from working at Popeyes to the Patriots, revealing the lessons learned from Bill Belichick and teammates. Butler opens up about the emotional challenges of sitting out Super Bowl LII, the importance of resilience, and his transition to coaching high school football while focusing on fatherhood.

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ANECDOTE

From Undrafted To Super Bowl Hero

Malcolm Butler went from undrafted free agent to making the Super Bowl XLIX interception that changed his life overnight.
He described being rushed to Disneyland and how fame and media attention hit him immediately after the play.

ANECDOTE

Work At Popeyes Before The Breakthrough

Butler shared his non-linear path: JUCO struggles, working at Popeyes, then rebuilding academics to reach West Alabama.
He used that setback as fuel, calling it the pivot that made him hungry to succeed.

ADVICE

Keep Getting Up And Stay Ready

Always believe and keep getting up when knocked down; use setbacks to light your fire.
Stay prepared and train with what you have so opportunities find you ready.

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“You gotta always believe. When you get knocked down off your feet, there’s just something that lights your fire and makes you keep getting up and fighting, just to keep going because you have a purpose.” Malcolm Butler 2x Super Bowl Champion

In this special episode of The Pivot Podcast live from Disney's Animal Kingdom, Malcolm Butler joins Ryan, Channing, and Fred for a deeply personal and behind-the-scenes story leading up to one of the most iconic moments in NFL history. Butler relives his “magical” Super Bowl XLIX interception vs Russell Wilson—the split-second decision that changed his life, secured the Patriots’ championship, and delivered him sports' famous words- "Im going to Disney World."

Malcolm opens up about what it was like to go from undrafted rookie to national hero overnight, from working at Popeyes to signing with the Patriots to playing for Bill Belichick, He shares the mindset he developed on and off the field and explains how one can never truly being prepared for a singular moment but can always being ready to compete. He reveals life lessons from Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, Gronk and Danny Amendola that helped shape the man he is today.

Although his storied NFL career started magical and yielded him two Super Bowl rings, Malcolm shares the hard times and reveals the emotions behind sitting out vs the Patriots loss to Eagles in SBLII and how the pain truly affected him.

From the locker room interactions to the surreal whirlwind of fame, Malcolm shares powerful insights on trust, readiness, and believing in yourself when the world doubts you. Now in his post NFL life, Malcolm is passing on his experiences sharing that coaching high school football and being a father prove to be the most rewarding aspect of his life.

Authentic, inspiring, and full of raw reflection—this conversation shows a side of Malcolm Butler you’ve never heard before. Tap in as The Pivot takes you right into the heart of the magic that makes us all believe anything worth having and working for is possible.

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