Craig Butler

Last updated
Craig Butler
Coach Craig Butler, June 22, 2019.jpg
Butler before a Tiger-Cats game in 2019.
Born: (1988-12-19) December 19, 1988 (age 35)
London, Ontario
Career information
StatusActive
CFL status National
Position(s) Special teams coordinator
Assistant defensive backs coach
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight196 lb (89 kg)
University Western Ontario
CFL Draft 2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 12
Drafted by Saskatchewan Roughriders
Career history
As coach
20172018 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
(Assistant coach)
20192021 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
(Defensive backs coach)
2022 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
(Special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach)
As player
20112013 Saskatchewan Roughriders
20142017 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star 2015
CFL East All-Star 2014, 2015
CFL West All-Star 2011
Career stats

Craig Butler (born December 19, 1988) is a former professional Canadian football defensive back and special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for Saint Thomas Aquinas Flames high school football team and played CIS football for the Western 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 the Saskatchewan Roughriders. As well, Butler was recognized as a member of the CFL All-Decade team, 2010-2019.

Contents

Professional career

Saskatchewan Roughriders

He was drafted 12th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2011 CFL Draft and signed with the team on June 1, 2011. [1] In his first season with the Roughriders, Butler was named a West division All-Star. [2] Butler spent three seasons with the Riders and won the 101st Grey Cup to conclude the 2013 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.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

On February 11, 2014, the first day of CFL free-agency, Butler signed a contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. [3] He was named a divisional all-star at safety in 2014 and played in his second consecutive Grey Cup, a loss to the Calgary Stampeders. He had a career high in sacks with four in 2015, while only playing in 15 games, en route to being named a league all-star for the first time in his career. He missed all of the 2016 season due to injury and only played in two games in 2017 before announcing his retirement on September 2, 2017. [4]

Coaching career

Immediately following his retirement announcement, Butler was named as an assistant coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats mid-season on September 2, 2017. He was promoted to defensive backs coach for the 2019 season. After two seasons in that role, he was then named the special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach on February 7, 2022. [5] In May 2023, it was revealled that Butler would not be returning to his coaching role, choosing rather to spend time with his family. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saskatchewan Roughriders</span> Football team based in Regina, Canada

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 CFL season</span> Sports season

The 1981 CFL season is considered to be the 28th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 24th Canadian Football League season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 CFL season</span> Sports season

The 1976 CFL season is considered to be the 23rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 19th Canadian Football League season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Daley</span>

Jim Daley is a Canadian football coach, who currently serves as the Special Teams Coordinator and assistant head coach for the St. Francis Xavier X-Men. Daley is a longtime coach who served in the Canadian Football League from 1990 to 2014.

John Chick is a former professional Canadian football defensive end who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League, primarily with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. After signing with Saskatchewan in 2007, he was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player after the 2009 CFL season. He would help the team capture the Grey Cup twice, in 2007 and 2013. Chick has also spent time in the National Football League (NFL) with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to playing professional football, Chick played college football for the Utah State Aggies. During his senior season with the Aggies, Chick recorded 12.5 quarterback sacks, good enough for fifth overall in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Chick also played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Edmonton Eskimos later in his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Fantuz</span> Canadian football player (born 1983)

Andrew Fantuz is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver. Fantuz spent the majority of his professional career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the Riders for six seasons after he was drafted by them in the first round of the 2006 CFL Draft. He then played six seasons for the Tiger-Cats. Fantuz was also signed by the Chicago Bears in 2011. He played CIS football for the Western Ontario Mustangs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micah Johnson (gridiron football)</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Micah Johnson is a professional Canadian football defensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. He has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Jason Shivers [SHY-verz] is an American professional gridiron football coach who is the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Shivers played professionally as a defensive back in the CFL, National Football League (NFL), and NFL Europe. He was originally selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Toronto Argonauts, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Moss</span> American football player and coach (1930–2023)

Joseph Charles Moss was an American gridiron football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Maryland and professional football in the National Football League (NFL) with the Washington Redskins. Moss served as head coach for the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Corey Holmes is a former professional Canadian football running back and the former mayor of Metcalfe, Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tad Kornegay</span> American gridiron football player (born 1982)

Tad Kornegay is a former professional Canadian football defensive back. He most recently played for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He has also been a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and BC Lions.

Gregory Edward Marshall is a former gridiron football player and coach. He was most recently the head coach for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team (OUA). He played professionally as a defensive end for the Ottawa Rough Riders for nine years where he was named the league's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1983. He has also served as the head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

John D. Payne was an American collegiate and professional football coach. He served as head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1973–1976), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1978–1980) and Ottawa Rough Riders (1996) of the Canadian Football League (CFL), compiling a career record of 62–63–3. Payne also was the head football coach at Abilene Christian University from 1985 to 1990, posting a mark of 26–34–2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston Hughes</span> American gridiron football player (born 1983)

Charleston Hughes is a professional Canadian football defensive end who is a free agent. He was signed by the Calgary Stampeders as a street free agent in 2008 and won two Grey Cup championships over his ten-year tenure with the club. He is a six-time CFL All-Star and eight-time division All-Star. He was also named the West Division's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2013. He played college football for Northwood. Hughes has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Toronto Argonauts, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shomari Williams</span> Canadian football coach and recruiter

Shomari Gyasi Williams is the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the UBC Thunderbirds of U Sports football. He is a former professional Canadian football defensive end who played in parts of six seasons in the Canadian Football League. He was drafted first overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2010 CFL Draft after Saskatchewan traded up to be in a position to draft him. Williams played one season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before being traded back to Saskatchewan. He played college football for the Queen's Golden Gaels and the Houston Cougars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Dickenson</span> Canadian gridiron football player and coach (born 1971)

Craig Dickenson is a professional football coach who most recently served as the head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has coached professional football since 2000 and won a Grey Cup championship with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders in 2008 and with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders season</span> CFL team season

The 2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders season was the 56th season for the team in the Canadian Football League. The Roughriders improved upon their 8–10 record from 2012 and made the playoffs for the second straight season, while hosting their first playoff game since 2010. After defeating the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders in the playoffs, the Roughriders qualified for their fourth Grey Cup appearance in seven years and first ever at their home stadium. The team defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23 in the 101st Grey Cup en route to winning the franchise's fourth championship. With the added seats at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field, the Roughriders led the league in attendance for the first time, with an average of 37,503 fans attending each regular season game.

The 2014 CFL season was the 61st season of modern-day Canadian football. It was the 57th Canadian Football League season. Vancouver hosted the 102nd Grey Cup on November 30. The league expanded to nine teams with the addition of the Ottawa Redblacks, giving the CFL nine teams for the first time since the 2005 season. As a result of the expansion, the schedule shifted to a 20-week regular season plus three weeks of playoffs ; the season started on June 26, 2014.

Zack Evans is a Canadian football defensive lineman who is a free agent. He is a two-time Grey Cup champion having won the 101st Grey Cup as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the 104th Grey Cup with the Ottawa Redblacks.

Jacob Dearborn is a professional Canadian football defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is also an Olympic bobsledder and represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

References

  1. "Riders sign four Draft Picks and add Canadian Talent to Roster". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  2. "2011 East & West Division All-Stars announced". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
  3. "FA14: Butler chooses Tigertown". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  4. Craig Butler retires; joins Ticats' coaching staff
  5. "Tiger-Cats announce 2022 coaching staff". Hamilton Tiger-Cats. February 7, 2022.
  6. Hodge, John (2023-05-17). "Craig Butler chooses family over coaching career with Hamilton Tiger-Cats". 3DownNation. Retrieved 2023-05-17.