Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler is coming back to New England. Butler is signing a two year deal worth up to $9 million dollars to re-sign with the Patriots.

Butler’s tenure in New England ended under controversial circumstances after he was benched by Bill Belichick in Super Bowl LII. He only played one play. To this day, people are still wondering. Was he benched for disciplinary reasons? Did he have a concussion. No one is sure. No one seems to know but maybe we will get some answers now that Butler is back.

Butler did not play last season. He spent the season on the reserved/retired list after signing with the Arizona Cardinals. Butler reported to camp and practiced with the team throughout camp but he stepped away before the start of the season.

Prior to signing with the Cardinals, Butler spent three seasons with the Tennessee Titans after signing a five-year, $61 million dollar deal with the team.

Butler was an undrafted free agent out of West Alabama. The Patriots signed him prior to the 2014 season. After making the team out of camp and carving out a role for himself, Butler made one of the biggest plays in Super Bowl history by picking off Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on the goal line with under a minute left. The iconic play will always be remembered by Patriots fans and football fans alike.

It is surprising that Belichick opted to bring Butler back but that’s the genius of Bill. He doesn’t hold grudges against former players. He is willing to bring them back if it is what is best for the team.

Butler is not the player he was when he was here five years ago. He is 32 years old and hasn’t played in two years. Despite that, he is an intelligent player and Belichick knows him well. He knows how to get the most out of him and he will.