The quintessential play of LeRoy Butler's Hall of Fame career isn't the Lambeau Leap
To commemorate former Packers safety LeRoy Butler making the Pro Football Hall of Fame, let's break down the quintessential play of his career. And no, it's not the one you think.
The Green Bay Packers had quite a night during last week's NFL Honors ceremony. During the broadcast, quarterback Aaron Rodgers took home his second consecutive league MVP award and fourth overall. Meanwhile, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur came in second for Coach of the Year honors and newly hired special-teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia finished third for his work as the interim headman of the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, perhaps the most memorable moment came when the Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its 2022 class, a group that featured former Packers safety LeRoy Butler. A four-time first-team All-Pro, member of the NFL's all-decade team of the 1990s, and inventor of the Lambeau Leap, Butler waited many years to finally receive his gold jacket in his 16th year of modern-era eligibility. He announced the big news on Twitter.
For an outlet that named itself The Leap, we had no choice but to commemorate Butler's upcoming induction into the Hall of Fame.
To many, the quintessential moment of Butler's playing career came in 1993 when he forced a fumble — subsequently recovered by Reggie White then tossed back to the safety — and returned the live ball to the end zone and jumped into the stands. That play gave berth to the Lambeau Leap, now the Packers' signature touchdown celebration and a moment immortalized by a statue located near the north end of the atrium.
While the creation of a tradition now ingrained in the Packers' identity deserves recognition, it doesn't quite sum up Butler's field-tilting ability quite like another play he made later in his Hall of Fame career.
The game
After nearly three decades wandering the football desert, the Packers have finally returned to the Super Bowl. They draw the New England Patriots, then an up-and-coming title contender led by quarterback Drew Bledsoe and championship-winning head coach Bill Parcells. Green Bay enters Super Bowl XXXI as the favorite following a 13-3 regular season that saw them score the most points in the league and allow the fewest on defense. Brett Favre earned his second consecutive MVP award in arguably his finest season with the franchise.
The situation
After blowing a 10-point lead, the Packers retake control with an 81-yard bomb to Antonio Freeman. The Patriots receive the ensuing kickoff and return it to their 24-yard line. They quickly move the sticks following a 9-yard completion to wide receiver Terry Glenn and a 3-yard carry from running back Curtis Martin.
The new set of downs begins inauspiciously for the Patriots, however. On first down, Bledsoe cannot find an open receiver before he sees Reggie White crashing the pocket, leading to a throwaway. The ill-advised draw play that follows nets only 3 yards and puts New England in a must-pass situation.
Still, the Patriots have burned the Packers on third down already this evening. During a third-and-1 in the first quarter, Green Bay defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur packed the trenches in hopes of clogging the run lanes. Instead, New England called a play-action shot with Bledsoe deftly faking the handoff before connecting with Glenn for a 44-yard diving reception. On the following play, Bledsoe found tight end Ben Coates for the go-ahead score.
That sequence remains on Shurmur's mind as he decides how to defend the Patriots on third-and-long.
The play
With the ground game effectively removed by the down and distance, the Packers show a blitz look before the snap. White anchors the strong side with linebacker Brian Williams right behind him in a shallow 50-technique alignment. Fellow linebacker Wayne Simmons positions himself right in front of the right guard with Santana Dotson playing nose tackle and defensive end Sean Jones lined up in as a wide-nine. Just off Jones' side stands Butler, threatening to rush the passer.
Expecting Shurmur to send the house, the Patriots leave two running backs in pass protection. The math gives them a one-hat advantage which, in theory, should allow Bledsoe adequate time to find the open man and convert.
Instead, New England has fallen into a trap. Shurmur dials up a simulated pressure, sending only five with Simmons initially staying back in pass coverage. This tricks the Patriots into sliding their protection in the wrong direction, leaving left tackle Bruce Armstrong to block Jones by himself and leaving running back Dave Meggett alone against Butler.
Still, Meggett has a reputation as a solid pass protector. Butler, lined up outside of an already wide defensive end, will have to make up considerable ground and go through the running back in order to reach Bledsoe, a difficult task even for an All-Pro.
But the Packers' gambit works. Jones takes out Armstrong and leaves Butler to crash down toward the quarterback. Butler's momentum overpowers Meggett, who hangs on for dear life as the safety plows through him. Butler then grabs hold of Bledsoe's right shoulder and pulls him down with Meggett, essentially sacking both players at the same time.
The impact
The sack ends the Patriots' drive and their best chance of retaking the lead. By the time they next had possession, the Packers had extended their lead to 20-14 and soon after to 26-14. Other than 31 seconds of game clock, New England never came within a touchdown again.
As for Butler, the play combines everything that made him an all-time great. Including White, now a fellow Hall of Famer, Butler possessed more versatility than any member of those Packers defenses. His coverage ability allowed for Shurmur to make more aggressive calls with his front-seven defenders. At the same time, Butler's strength and play-making skills also made him a terror rushing the passer. Opposing offensive coordinators had no idea what to expect from him on any given snap.
Other safeties have come around that possessed a similar combination of skills, some with even greater impacts on the game. But Butler provided the prototype for the modern safety, and now, Canton will honor his achievements.
-- Jason B. Hirschhorn is an award-winning sports journalist and Pro Football Writers of America member. Follow him on Twitter: @by_JBH
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