Cardinals release Malcolm Butler from reserve/retired list as he mulls comeback

Malcolm Butler did not play in 2021, informing the Cardinals of a retirement decision just before the season began. While the Cards previously held Butler’s rights, the former Super Bowl hero is unattached again.

The Cardinals released Butler from their reserve/retired list Thursday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. This might not be a formality, with Rapoport adding the veteran cover man is considering a comeback.

Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said just before last season a Butler comeback remained in play, but he stayed retired. Butler will turn 32 in two weeks. His retirement decision left the Cardinals short-handed on the outside last season, but Robert Alford‘s return after two injury-nixed years helped the playoff-qualifying team’s cause. Alford is now on track for free agency.

Prior to the late-summer retirement, Butler logged seven NFL seasons and did well for himself financially despite arriving in the league as an undrafted free agent. The Patriots slapped a first-round RFA tender on Butler in 2017, and the Titans gave him a five-year, $61.25M deal in 2018 as a free agent. Tennessee bailed on that contract last March.