Report: Cardinals’ Malcolm Butler mulling retirement over personal situation

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Monday that Arizona Cardinals cornerback Malcolm Butler is dealing with a personal situation that has him mulling retirement.

Butler signed a one-year deal in March with a base salary of $3.25 million guaranteed that could reach up to $6 million.

“I have been told throughout the day by multiple sources that he is going through a personal situation right now and part of that situation led him to be away from the facility within the last week for a period of time,” Garafolo said.

“He is still trying to work his way through that, and retirement or stepping away from the game is on the table for Malcolm Butler.”

Butler had his best statistical year with the Tennessee Titans in 2020-21 posting career highs with 100 combined tackles and four interceptions.

He has removed all Cardinals references from his social media. Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots pictures remain.

Garafolo said the team has yet to comment about the situation and Butler’s agent did not respond to several attempts to get a comment from him.