Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and XFL star Hakeem Butler is getting another chance in the NFL.
The XFL announced via Twitter that the St. Louis BattleHawks’ wideout has received a tryout from the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. St. Louis finished 7-3 but missed out on the final playoff berth in the North Division via tiebreaker to the Seattle Sea Dragons.
Butler finished second in both receptions (50) and receiving yards (599) in 2023, trailing only Jahcour Pearson of the Sea Dragons. Pearson hauled in 60 receptions for 670 yards. Butler’s eight receiving touchdowns were tops among all XFLers.
The Iowa State product was drafted in the fourth round, 103rd overall, by the Cardinals back in 2019. But the 6-foot-5 pass-catcher unfortunately suffered a broken hand and had to miss his entire rookie year.
Arizona waived Butler early in his sophomore 2020 campaign, and he was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles. Butler appeared in two games but didn’t record a single catch, having been targeted just once in those contests.
Butler signed with the BC Lions and later the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League, but he was let go before ever playing a game for either team.
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The 26-year-old found his footing in the XFL, emerging as one of the league’s elite offensive players. Now we wait and see if it was enough to help him shine in the NFL.
