Adam Butler

Adam Butler was re-signed by the New England Patriots as a restricted free agent on April 17, 2020 ... Originally signed by New England as a rookie free agent (5/5/17).

​CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Adam Butler was re-signed by the New England Patriots as a restricted free agent on April 17, 2020 ... Originally signed by New England as a rookie free agent (5/5/17).

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2020 (6/1)

• Appeared as a reserve in the season opener vs. Miami (9/13) and made three tackles.
• played a reserve role at Seattle (9/20), making a tackle and assisting on another 18 total snaps.
• Totaled three tackles (1 solo, 2 ast.) as a reserve defensive lineman in a Week 3 win vs. Las Vegas (9/27).
• Appeared as a reserve on the defensive line in a Week 4 loss at Kansas City (10/5), assisted on one tackle.
• Started for the first time in 2020 at defensive tackle in a Week 6 loss vs. Denver (10/18)
• Saw time as a reserve defensive lineman in a Week 7 loss vs. San Francisco (10/25)

2019 (16/2, 1/0)

• Played in all 16 regular-season contests with two starts and posted career-highs with 26 tackles, six sacks and five passes defensed as part of a team that finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) and scoring (14.1 points allowed per game). His six sacks were third-most on the team.
• Totaled three tackles and added one pass defensed in the AFC Wild Card loss vs. Tennessee (1/4).
• Tallied multiple two-sack games: Week 2 at Miami (9/15) and Week 8 vs. Cleveland (10/27).
• Started and contributed along the defensive line with three tackles, two sacks for a combined 9 yards lost and added a pass defensed in the win at Miami (9/15). It was his first career two-sack game.
• Contributed as a key reserve in the win vs. Cleveland (10/27). Recorded four tackles, two sacks and three quarterback hits in the game. Added another two half-sacks in the fourth quarter, combining with Chase Winovich and Jamie Collins to bring his season total to 4 1/2 sacks.
• Made two tackles and netted a half-sack vs. Buffalo (12/21), bringing his season total to a career-high six.

2018 (16/0, 3/0)

• Played in all 16 regular-season games as a reserve and posted 17 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defensed.
• Appeared as a reserve defensive lineman and combined for five tackles total in the season-opening victory vs. Houston (9/9).
• Saw limited snaps in a reserve role along the defensive line but contributed with one tackle at Jacksonville (9/16).
• Contributed in a reserve role on the defensive line at Detroit (9/23).
• Contributed as a reserve defensive lineman and part of a defensive unit that held the Dolphins to just 172 total yards of offense in the victory vs. Miami (9/30). Finished with two tackles and a pass defensed, while adding a 9-yard sack of QB Ryan Tannehill.
• Appeared in a reserve role on the defensive line where he contributed with one tackle and added a pass defensed in the victory vs. Indianapolis (10/4).
• Contributed as a reserve defensive lineman in the win vs. Kansas City (10/14).
• Contributed as a reserve defensive lineman during the victory at Chicago (10/21).
• Appeared as a reserve along the defensive line in the victory at Buffalo (10/29).
• Finished with three tackles as a reserve defensive lineman in the victory vs. Green Bay (11/4).
• Contributed in a reserve role on the defensive line and made one tackle in the game at Tennessee (11/11).
• Appeared as a reserve along the defensive line during the victory at the New York Jets (11/25).
• Saw limited snaps defensively but contributed with one tackle and a sack of QB Kirk Cousins for an 8-yard loss during the win vs. Minnesota (12/2).
• Contributed as a reserve defensive tackle and made one tackle at Miami (12/9).
• Contributed on defense as a reserve defensive lineman and made one tackle at Pittsburgh (12/16).
• Appeared in a reserve role on defense in the win vs. Buffalo (12/23).
• Contributed on defense with one tackle and made a key sack of QB Sam Darnold for a 5-yard loss, while also forcing a fumble on the play that was picked up by LB Kyle Van Noy and returned 46 yards for a New England touchdown in the win vs. the New York Jets (12/30).
• Made one tackle in a reserve role on the defensive line during the AFC Divisional Playoff victory vs. L.A. Chargers (1/13).
• Contributed in a reserve role along the defensive line during the AFC Championship victory at Kansas City (1/20).
• Contributed in a reserve role on the defensive line in the Super Bowl LIII victory vs. the Los Angeles Rams (2/3).

2017 (16/6, 3/0)

• Played in all 16 regular-season games with six starts and totaled 19 tackles and two sacks.
• Appeared as a reserve in all three postseason contests and posted three tackles and two sacks.
• Made his first career start at defensive tackle in the win at New Orleans (9/17). Did not accrue any statistics.
• Appeared in a reserve role along the defensive line vs. Atlanta (10/22) and contributed with three total tackles, while also adding the first sack of his career for a 10-yard loss on a second-down play to set up a third-and-long.
• Appeared in a reserve role on the defensive line and finished with two tackles and one sack for a 10-yard loss on a third-quarter third down to force a punt at Miami (12/11).
• Contributed as a reserve defensive lineman and made one tackle and notched his first-career postseason sack for a 5-yard loss to force a punt in the third quarter of the Divisional Playoff victory vs. Tennessee (1/13).
• Appeared as a reserve defensive lineman and recorded one tackle and his second sack of the postseason to force a second-quarter punt in the AFC Championship victory vs. Jacksonville (1/21).

COLLEGE

• Played in 49 games with 36 starts and registered 109 tackles, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five passes defensed.
• Also blocked two extra points while playing special teams.
• Led the Commodore defense with four sacks as a senior in 2016.
• Began collegiate career as an offensive lineman before switching to defensive tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2013.

EXTRA POINTS

• Adam Butler arrived at Vanderbilt as an accomplished high school offensive lineman and spent his freshman season red shirting as a backup at center and guard. During his first offseason, Butler entered a rib eating contest, which judges ruled his team had lost. Butler disagreed and began arguing with the judges. Then Commodore defensive coordinator Bob Shoop was in attendance and witnessed Butler's demeanor and was impressed with his competitive attitude. Shoop convinced then head coach James Franklin to ask Butler to transition to defense. "Coach Franklin brought me into his office and he asked me what I wanted, and I wanted whatever was best for the team," said Butler. "Because we were so short on defensive linemen at that time, that's how it happened."

PERSONAL

• Was a two-time first team 5A All-District selection and two-time captain as a junior and senior at Duncanville (Texas) High School.
• Earned team MVP honors as a senior.
• Also earned letters as a thrower in track & field.
• Majored in earth and environmental sciences at Vanderbilt.
• Descendant of Texas children's rights campaigner Edna Gladney, subject of the 1940's film "Blossoms in the Dust".