Drew Butler
{{Short description|American football player (born 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Drew Butler
| image = Drew_Butler_American_Football.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Butler with the Cardinals in 2014
| number = 9, 2
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|5|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Duluth, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 199
| high_school = Peachtree Ridge
(Suwanee, Georgia)
| college = Georgia (2007–2011)
| undraftedyear = 2012
| pastteams = * Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2012}})
- Chicago Bears (2014)*
- Detroit Lions (2014)*
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2014|2016}})
| highlights = * Ray Guy Award (2009)
- Unanimous All-American (2009)
- Second-team All-American (2010)
- First-team All-SEC (2009)
- Second-team All-SEC (2010)
| statlabel1 = Punts
| statvalue1 = 248
| statlabel2 = Punting yards
| statvalue2 = 10,627
| statlabel3 = Punting average
| statvalue3 = 42.9
| statlabel4 = Longest punt
| statvalue4 = 79
| statlabel5 = Inside 20
| statvalue5 = 92
| pfr = B/ButlDr00
}}
Andrew Joseph Butler (born May 10, 1989) is an American former football punter who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he won the Ray Guy Award and was recognized as a unanimous All-American in 2009. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent after the 2012 NFL draft.
Early years
Butler was born in Duluth, Georgia, and is the son of Kevin Butler, a former University of Georgia and NFL placekicker who began his career with the 1985 Chicago Bears.{{cite news|last=Tucker|first=Tim|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/uga-punter-butler-could-make-name-for-himself/nQLb7/|title=UGA punter Butler could make name for himself|date=August 15, 2009|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|publisher=Cox Media Group|location=Atlanta, Georgia|access-date=September 28, 2014}} He attended Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia, and played high school football for the Peachtree Ridge Lions. As a junior, he averaged 40 yards per punt with a longest kick of 63 yards and 13 punts inside the 20-yard line.{{cite web|url=http://prhsfootball.com/LionLegacyPastPlayers.aspx?ID=CP&PID=9#PSLINK_3_0_2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140928143913/http://prhsfootball.com/LionLegacyPastPlayers.aspx?ID=CP&PID=9%23PSLINK_3_0_2 |archive-date=September 28, 2014|url-status=dead|title=Lion Legacy: Drew Butler |website=prhsfootball.com |access-date=September 28, 2014 }} Following his senior season in 2006, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Georgia Sports Writers Association named him to their Class 5A all-state first-teams.{{cite web|author=|url=http://ghsfha.org/allstateteams.php?aYear=2006&aClass=5|title=Georgia High School Football Historian's Association 2006 All-State Teams Class AAAAA|access-date=September 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129205940/http://ghsfha.org/allstateteams.php?aYear=2006&aClass=5|archive-date=January 29, 2016|url-status=dead}} Scout.com rated him as the No. 9 punter recruit in the nation. He also played Peachtree Ridge Lions golf team, while maintaining a 3.9 grade point average.
College career
Butler attended the University of Georgia, where he played for coach Mark Richt's Georgia Bulldogs football team from 2007 to 2011. He led the nation in punting average for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season.{{cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&rpt=IA_playerpunt&site=org&div=IA&dest=O|title=Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Player Report: Punting|access-date=January 8, 2010|date=January 8, 2010|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association}} He was selected as the first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) punter,{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120809aab.html|title=Seven Bulldogs Named To Coaches? All-SEC Team|access-date=December 2, 2011|date=December 8, 2009|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GeorgiaDogs.com|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018223830/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120809aab.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120709aaa.html|title=Seven Georgia Players Earn AP All-SEC Recognition|access-date=December 8, 2011|date=December 7, 2009|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GeorgiaDogs.com|archive-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604224908/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120709aaa.html|url-status=dead}} and a unanimous All-American, and he was the winner of the Ray Guy Award recognizing him as the best college punter in the nation.{{cite web|title=NCAA Football Award Winners|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Awards.pdf|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|year=2011|page=12|access-date=October 20, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121109aab.html|title=Georgia's Drew Butler Wins Ray Guy Award As Nation's Top Punter|access-date=December 2, 2011|date=December 11, 2009|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GeorgiaDogs.com|archive-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604224830/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121109aab.html|url-status=dead}}
In 2010, Butler was selected as the second-team All-SEC punter by the coaches.{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120810aab.html|title=Six Bulldogs Named To All-SEC Coaches Teams|access-date=December 2, 2011|date=December 8, 2010|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GeorgiaDogs.com|archive-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604224837/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120810aab.html|url-status=dead}} He was a first-team All-American selection by Pro Football Weekly, a second-team choice by the Associated Press and CBS Sports, as well as an honorable mention selection by Sports Illustrated.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/35756/all-americans-in-terms-of-nfl-potential|title='All-Americans' in terms of NFL potential|access-date=December 21, 2010|date=December 21, 2010|author=Miller, Ted|publisher=ESPN}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/ap-all-america-team-776486.html|title=AP All-America Team, List|access-date=December 14, 2010|date=December 14, 2010|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}{{dead link|date=October 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/14417968|title=CBSSports.com 2010 College Football All-America Team|access-date=December 9, 2010|work=CBS Sports|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210015930/http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/14417968|archive-date=February 10, 2012}}{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/12/14/all-american-team/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216235907/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/12/14/all-american-team/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2010|title=SI.com's 2010 All-Americas|access-date=December 14, 2010|date=December 14, 2010|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} Butler was once again a finalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2010. He was a 2010 first-team Academic All-America selection.{{cite web|url=http://www.cosida.com/news.aspx?id=2980|title=Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, Minnesota Duluth running back Isaac Odim lead ESPN Academic All-America Football Teams|access-date=December 9, 2010|date=November 23, 2010|publisher=College Sports Information Directors of America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929215731/http://www.cosida.com/news.aspx?id=2980|archive-date=September 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}
On December 6, 2011, he was honored as a National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aaj.html|title=Butler Recognized At NFF Banquet|access-date=December 8, 2011|date=December 6, 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GeorgiaDogs.com|archive-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604224903/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aaj.html|url-status=dead}} He was also honored on that same day when he earned honorable mention All-SEC recognition by the Associated Press.{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aah.html|title=Bulldogs Spread Throughout AP All-SEC Teams|access-date=December 8, 2011|date=December 6, 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GeorgiaDogs.com|archive-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604224927/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aah.html|url-status=dead}} On December 8, he repeated in 2011 as a first-team Academic All-America selection.{{cite web|url=http://cosida.com/news.aspx?id=3474|title=Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck headlines the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Division I Football Team|access-date=December 8, 2011|date=December 8, 2010|publisher=College Sports Information Directors of America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426040719/http://cosida.com/news.aspx?id=3474|archive-date=April 26, 2012|url-status=dead}}
Professional career
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
On April 28, 2012, following the 2012 NFL draft, Butler was one of 12 undrafted free agent rookies signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers.{{cite news|url=http://triblive.com/sports/1250819-85/story|title=By the Tribune-Review |access-date=October 20, 2014|date=April 29, 2012|work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|author=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503045017/http://triblive.com/sports/1250819-85/story|archive-date=May 3, 2012|url-status=dead}} During the 2012 season, Butler punted 77 times, and averaged 43.8 yards.{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Butler-excited-to-see-son-with-Bears/5b345642-f64d-4f3e-aea6-e5e197d7c7a2|title=Butler excited to see son with Bears|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=March 24, 2014|access-date=March 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324231453/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Butler-excited-to-see-son-with-Bears/5b345642-f64d-4f3e-aea6-e5e197d7c7a2|archive-date=March 24, 2014|url-status=dead}} For the 2013 NFL season he beat Brian Moorman in preseason to make the 53-man roster.
=Chicago Bears=
On December 31, 2013, Butler was signed to a future/reserve contract by the Chicago Bears.{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/12/31/bears-sign-kevin-butlers-son-to-reservefuture-contract/|title=Bears Sign Kevin Butler's Son To Reserve/Future Contract|work=WBBM-TV|date=December 31, 2013|access-date=December 31, 2013}} On May 18, Butler was released.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago-bears/post/_/id/4692298/sources-butler-informed-of-release|title=Sources: Butler informed of release|access-date=May 21, 2014|date=May 18, 2014|publisher=ESPN|author=Wright, Michael C.}}
=Detroit Lions=
On July 25, 2014, Butler was signed by the Detroit Lions.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/detroit-lions-sign-p-drew-butler-release-s-gabe-lynn/|title=Detroit Lions sign P Drew Butler, release S Gabe Lynn|access-date=July 28, 2014|date=July 25, 2014|work=FOX Sports|agency=Associated Press}} The Lions released Butler on August 25, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Lions-continue-roster-trim/16e1dbb5-6cc8-4692-89bd-3b42655dca45|title=Lions continue roster trim|access-date=August 26, 2014|date=August 25, 2014|publisher=Detroit Lions|author=Twentyman, Tim|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115529/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Lions-continue-roster-trim/16e1dbb5-6cc8-4692-89bd-3b42655dca45|archive-date=August 26, 2014|url-status=dead}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
The Cardinals signed Butler on September 8, 2014.{{cite news|last=Wilkening|first=Mike|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/08/cardinals-sign-p-drew-butler/|title=Cardinals sign P Drew Butler|date=September 8, 2014|website=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|access-date=September 9, 2014}} Butler made his debut for the Cardinals later that same day in their 2014 season opener against the San Diego Chargers on ESPN's Monday Night Football.{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400554301|title=San Diego Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals: Recap|date=September 8, 2014|website=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|access-date=September 9, 2014}} He was released on September 16, 2014.{{cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals sign Victor Butler; release Marcus Benard and Drew Butler |url=http://arizonasports.com/40/1767268/Arizona-Cardinals-sign-Victor-Butler-release-Marcus-Benard-and-Drew-Butler |date=September 16, 2014 |website=ArizonaSports.com |publisher=Bonneville International |access-date=September 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919041110/http://arizonasports.com/40/1767268/Arizona-Cardinals-sign-Victor-Butler-release-Marcus-Benard-and-Drew-Butler |archive-date=September 19, 2014 }} He was re-signed by the Cardinals on September 19, 2014. On October 6, 2014, he became the starting punter after Dave Zastudil was placed on season-ending injured reserve.{{cite web|last1=Gantt|first1=Darin|title=Cardinals make moves, bring in QB Dennis Dixon|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/07/cardinals-make-moves-bring-in-qb-dennis-dixon/|date=October 7, 2014|publisher=Pro Football Talk|access-date=October 7, 2014}} Butler went on to lead the NFL in punts inside the 20 during the 2014 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.footballdb.com/statistics/nfl/player-stats/punting/2014/regular-season?sort=puntin20 |title=2014 NFL Punting Statistics |publisher=The Football Database |access-date=January 28, 2023}}
On October 4, 2016, Butler was released by the Cardinals.{{cite web|title=Chris Johnson, Tyvon Branch To IR; Butler Cut|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Chris-Johnson-Tyvon-Branch-To-IR-Butler-Cut/a3a64d8b-e7f6-4089-869e-81f4217dd19d|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=October 4, 2016|access-date=October 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005124803/http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Chris-Johnson-Tyvon-Branch-To-IR-Butler-Cut/a3a64d8b-e7f6-4089-869e-81f4217dd19d|archive-date=October 5, 2016|url-status=dead}} He was re-signed on November 15, 2016, and released again on December 13, 2016.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Re-Sign Punter Drew Butler|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Re-Sign-Punter-Drew-Butler/4e2ade47-b3c5-47c0-a537-1e014a34ed1d|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=November 15, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Cardinals Switch Punters, Sign Scooby Wright|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Switch-Punters-Sign-Scooby-Wright/020ef8dd-ad77-4859-be4a-713e043ce08b|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823115515/http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Switch-Punters-Sign-Scooby-Wright/020ef8dd-ad77-4859-be4a-713e043ce08b|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 23, 2017|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=December 13, 2016}}
=Career statistics=
==Regular season==
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2|Season !! rowspan=2|Team !! colspan=16| Punting{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/15209/drew-butler|title=Drew Butler|website=ESPN|access-date=September 11, 2016}} | ||||||||||
| GP | Punts | Yds | Lng | Avg | Net Avg | Blk | In 20 | TB | Ret | RetY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Pittsburgh Steelers
| 16 || 77 || 3,374 || 79 || 43.8 || 37.8 || 1 || 26 || 6 || 30 || 306 | |||||||||
| 2014 | Arizona Cardinals
| 15 || 79 || 3,328 || 67 || 42.1 || 36.8 || 2 || 34 || 5 || 26 || 246 | |||||||||
| 2015 | Arizona Cardinals
| 16 || 60 || 2,575 || 58 || 42.9 || 35.4 || 1 || 22 || 6 || 25 || 295 | |||||||||
| 2016 | Arizona Cardinals
| 7 || 32 || 1,350 || 62 || 42.2 || 39.0 || 0 || 18 || 3 || 14 || 100 | |||||||||
| || Total
| 47 || 216 || 9,277 || 79 || 42.9 || 38.2 || 4 || 82 || 17 || 81 || 847 |
==Postseason==
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2|Season !! rowspan=2|Team !! colspan=16| Punting{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/15209/seasontype/3|title=Drew Butler|website=ESPN|access-date=September 11, 2016}} | ||||||||||
| GP | Punts | Yds | Lng | Avg | Net Avg | Blk | In 20 | TB | Ret | RetY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Arizona Cardinals
| 2 || 7 || 342 || 55 || 48.9 || 43.4 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 38 | |||||||||
| || Total
| 2 || 7 || 342 || 55 || 48.9 || 43.4 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 38 |
Post-playing career
Butler runs 4th Down Consulting and hosts a pair of college football podcasts titled Punt & Pass Podcast and CampusLore Life. In March 2021, he was hired by Icon Source, a company helping college athletes receive student athlete compensation, as Executive Vice President.{{cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005506/en/Drew-Butler-Joins-Icon-Source-to-Lead-Collegiate-Program|title=Drew Butler Joins Icon Source to Lead Collegiate Program|work=Icon Source|publisher=Business Wire|date=March 17, 2021|access-date=April 4, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/15209/drew-butler Stats at ESPN]
- [http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/playerDetail.jsp?yr=2011&org=257&player=13 Stats at NCAA]
- [http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/butler_drew00.html Georgia Bulldogs bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522175017/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/butler_drew00.html |date=May 22, 2012 }}
{{Ray Guy Award}}
{{2009 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Drew}}
Category:Sportspeople from Duluth, Georgia
Category:Players of American football from Gwinnett County, Georgia
Category:Sportspeople from Suwanee, Georgia
Category:American football punters
Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players
Category:All-American college football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Chicago Bears players