Hakeem Butler returned to the Battlehawks last season and lit the league on fire. He amassed 652 receiving yards, 45 catches, and 5 touchdowns, and earned the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award. Butler has had a lengthy career already but seems to have found a home in St. Louis. Let’s get to meet the Battlehawks’ deadliest weapon and learn more about him.
Butler was born on May 16, 1996, in Baltimore, Maryland. Following his mother’s passing, he and his siblings moved to Houston, where he had a stellar career at Travis High School. He committed to Iowa State and, after redshirting his first season, eventually became the Cyclones’ primary receiving threat.
In his junior season, Butler had 60 catches for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns, which put him on NFL scouts’ radars. Eventually, Butler was drafted in the fourth round in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
After injuring his hand and missing his rookie season, Butler bounced around professional football. He signed with the Panthers and the Eagles of the NFL, the BC Lions and Edmonton Elks of the CFL, then made his first appearance with the Battlehawks in 2023. Following a successful 51-catch, 599-yard, eight-touchdown season, he was released and attempted an NFL comeback with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he was cut after just a few months, and re-signed with the Battlehawks.
Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Apr 2, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Dallas Carmack (55) celebrates wide receiver Hakeem Butler (88) the conversion against Houston Roughnecks in the second quarter at TDECU Stadium.
His second stint with the Hawks was magical and part of the reason the team was so successful. His 45 receptions, 652 yards, and 5 touchdowns — the latter two lead the league. Butler was named the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year and contributed to the team’s 7-3 record. Butler tried to capitalize his fantastic year into an NFL contract with the Bengals but fell short, and will now return to the Battlehawks once more.