Craig Butler (born December 19, 1988) is a former professional

Canadian football Canadian football, or simply football, is a Sports in Canada, sport in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete on a field long and wide, attempting to advance a Ball (gridiron football), pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposi ...

defensive back In gridiron football, defensive backs (DBs), also called the secondary, are the players on the defensive side of the ball who play farthest back from the line of scrimmage. They are distinguished from the other two sets of defensive players, the ...

and

special teams coordinator A special teams coordinator (STC) is a Coach (sport), coach responsible for a gridiron football team's special teams unit. Generally, the special teams coordinator, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator represent the second level of a t ...

and assistant

defensive backs coach In gridiron football, defensive backs (DBs), also called the secondary, are the players on the defensive side of the ball who play farthest back from the line of scrimmage. They are distinguished from the other two sets of defensive players, the ...

for the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). He played for Saint Thomas Aquinas Flames high school football team and played

CIS football U Sports football is the highest level of amateur play of Canadian football and operates under the auspices of U Sports, Canada's governing body for university sports. Twenty-seven teams from Canadian universities are divided into four athlet ...

for the

Western Ontario Mustangs The Western Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. The school's athletic program supports 46 varsity teams. Their mascot is a Mustang named J.W. and the school colours are purple and white. ...

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 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. The Roughriders were founded in 19 ...

. As well, Butler was recognized as a member of the CFL All-Decade team, 2010-2019.

Professional career

Saskatchewan Roughriders

He was drafted 12th overall by the

in the 2011 CFL Draft and signed with the team on June 1, 2011. In his first season with the Roughriders, Butler was named a West division All-Star. Butler spent three seasons with the Riders and won the

101st Grey Cup The 101st Grey Cup was a Canadian football game played between the East Division champion Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the West Division champion Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League to decide the Grey Cup champions of the 2013 ...

to conclude the

2013 CFL season The 2013 CFL season was the 60th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 56th season of the Canadian Football League. The pre-season began on June 12, 2013 and the regular season began on June 27, 2013. Regina, Saskatch ...

. 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

of the

. He was named a divisional all-star at safety in 2014 and played in his second consecutive

Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...

, a loss to the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium a ...

. 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 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

before announcing his retirement on September 2, 2017.

Coaching career

Immediately following his retirement announcement, Butler was named as an assistant coach for the

mid-season on September 2, 2017. He was promoted to

for the

2019 season Nineteen or 19 may refer to: * 19 (number) * One of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019 Films * ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film * ''Nineteen'' (1987 film), a 1987 science fiction film * '' 19-Nineteen'', a 2009 South Korean film * '' Dici ...

. After two seasons in that role, he was then named the

and assistant

on February 7, 2022. In May 2023, it was revealed that Butler would not be returning to his coaching role, choosing rather to spend time with his family.

References

External links

Hamilton Tiger-Cats bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Craig 1988 births Living people Canadian football defensive backs Hamilton Tiger-Cats coaches Hamilton Tiger-Cats players Players of Canadian football from Ontario Saskatchewan Roughriders players Canadian football people from London, Ontario Western Mustangs football players