 Butler with theHamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019 | |
| No. 28 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Defensive back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1988-12-19)December 19, 1988 (age 36) London, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 196 lb (89 kg) |
| Career information | |
| University | Western Ontario |
| CFL draft | 2011: 2nd round, 12th overall pick |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 2011–2013 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 2014–2017 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
Coaching | |
| 2017–2018 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Assistant coach) |
| 2019–2021 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Defensive backs coach) |
| 2022 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach) |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Craig Butler (born December 19, 1988) is a Canadian former professionalfootballdefensive back who played in theCanadian Football League (CFL). He played for Saint Thomas Aquinas Flames high school football team and playedCIS football for theWestern Ontario Mustangs where he co-won the Dr. Claude Brown memorial trophy for top male student athlete. Butler was also named an OUA All-Star and All-Canadian in his senior season. He was also a member of theSaskatchewan Roughriders. Butler was named the first-teamsafety on the CFL 2010–2019 All-Decade team.[1]
He was drafted 12th overall by theSaskatchewan Roughriders in the2011 CFL draft and signed with the team on June 1, 2011.[2] In his first season with the Roughriders, Butler was named a West division All-Star.[3] Butler spent three seasons with the Riders and won the101st Grey Cup to conclude the2013 CFL season. In his three seasons with the Riders, Butler amassed 135 tackles, 34 special teams tackles, 4 quarterback sacks, 11 interceptions and 6 fumble recoveries.
On February 11, 2014, the first day of CFL free-agency, Butler signed a contract with theHamilton Tiger-Cats of theCanadian Football League.[4] He was named adivisional all-star at safety in 2014 and played in his second consecutiveGrey Cup, a loss to theCalgary Stampeders. He had a career high in sacks with four in 2015, while only playing in 15 games, en route to being named aleague all-star for the first time in his career. He missed all of the2016 season due to injury and only played in two games in2017 before announcing his retirement on September 2, 2017.[5]
Immediately following his retirement announcement, Butler was named as an assistant coach for theHamilton Tiger-Cats mid-season on September 2, 2017. He was promoted todefensive backs coach for the2019 season. After two seasons in that role, he was then named thespecial teams coordinator and assistantdefensive backs coach on February 7, 2022.[6] In May 2023, it was revealed that Butler would not be returning to his coaching role, choosing rather to spend time with his family.[7]