Malcolm Butler's Super Bowl Interception: Revisiting the NFL's Most Debated Call
Malcolm Butler's dramatic interception in February 2015 all but sealed the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots, a moment that continues to resonate deeply in American football lore. Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP. View image in fullscreen. Eleven years on, the question persists: was the NFL's most criticised play call actually the right decision?
A Legacy-Defining Moment
The last time the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots clashed in a Super Bowl, an undrafted rookie's stunning interception irrevocably altered the trajectories of both franchises. When the Patriots recently faced the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game, Butler was at home in Houston, opting to watch alone in a No 21 Patriots jersey rather than risk jinxing the outcome. As the Patriots held a narrow three-point lead in the fourth quarter, a wifi glitch delayed his broadcast, but once restored, his phone erupted with calls, signalling New England's return to the Super Bowl stage.
With a 10-7 victory, the Patriots secured their 10th Super Bowl appearance in 24 years, setting up a rematch against the Seahawks. This Sunday's game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, offers New England a chance to break a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl victories ever, at seven. Butler's role in this narrative remains pivotal, even in retirement at age 36, as he reflects on a play that reshaped legacies and ignited lasting debate. "It's most definitely been life-changing," he says. "It's one of the best plays ever made in Super Bowl history – in NFL history."
The Play That Changed Everything
In Super Bowl XLIX, with Seattle trailing by four points and a minute remaining, they had four attempts from the Patriots' five-yard line to secure victory. After Marshawn Lynch gained four yards to set up second-and-goal from the one-yard line, conventional wisdom dictated another handoff to the powerhouse running back. Instead, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called a pass play – a quick slant to Ricardo Lockette, designed to exploit the Patriots' tight man coverage.
The plan hinged on Jermaine Kearse blocking Patriots corner Brandon Browner, allowing Lockette to slip underneath for the catch. However, Butler, the undrafted rookie, anticipated the move, thundered to the goal line, and intercepted the pass, sealing a 28-24 Patriots win. "I ain't got nothin but one job to do," Butler recalls. "If they throw this ball, it's mine." This twist remains one of sport's most shocking moments, compared to infamous blunders like Bill Buckner's World Series error or the Atlanta Falcons' Super Bowl collapse.
Fallout and Second-Guessing
The interception fractured the Seahawks' cohesion, transforming a potential dynasty into a team riven by internal strife. Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, and others publicly resented quarterback Russell Wilson, leading to the dismantling of the vaunted Legion of Boom defense. Wilson's career has since seen him bounce between teams, while Carroll was parted ways with in 2024, leaving only general manager John Schneider to guide Seattle back to the Super Bowl amid ownership uncertainty.
Carroll has defended the call, citing situational awareness and the logic of mixing plays. Analysis suggests that with Butler playing off Kearse, the rub route was sound, but Butler's preparation proved decisive. "Being around great coaches and players, you understand situational football," Butler explains. "From the one-yard line, the only thing Kearse can do is run a slant or an out route." He acknowledges that a handoff to Lynch might have yielded a different outcome, given his size disadvantage against the running back.
Butler's Enduring Impact
Butler's interception cemented his place in Patriots history, contributing to another Super Bowl win in 2017 and a lucrative contract with the Tennessee Titans. He received a Chevy Colorado truck from Tom Brady as the Super Bowl MVP gift, a symbol of his legacy. "Everybody that saw that play knows what it means," Butler says. "But to me, it's just waking up in my house, taking out the trash and looking at my Tom Brady truck."
Today, Butler focuses on philanthropy, hosting football camps in Mississippi and supporting charities like the American Diabetes Association. As a volunteer coach at Houston's St Thomas High, he encounters Seahawks fans among his players, who grudgingly acknowledge his play. "Usually, they'll be like, 'Good play, bro. We should've ran it,'" he notes. Every morning, he wakes grateful they did not, a testament to a decision that continues to spark debate and define NFL history.
