Steelers All 90: Hakeem Butler Attempting to ‘Take Advantage of Every Day’

When the XFL’s receiving touchdown leader became available this spring, the Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time in signing Hakeem Butler to a contract. The last time that Butler played in the NFL was with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2020 season after being a third-round draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals in 2019.

After a record-breaking junior season at Iowa State, Butler entered the NFL but according to himself, that was the worst thing for him because it resulted in him losing all of the confidence in himself.

“I was 21, 22, coming into the league,” Butler said. “My mental state at that time was just very low. Not confident at all. I truly lost all my confidence when I got to Arizona, and I think that’s a big part of why I’m not there and what happened.”

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After that, Butler tried his hardest to keep playing football anywhere that would give him a chance. He converted to a tight end in Philadelphia and even signed on with two Canadian Football League teams in 2021. That all led him to the XFL this past spring where he produced his best season since that record-setting junior year at Iowa State.

After leading the XFL in receiving touchdowns, Butler signed with the Steelers in May. Butler said that following the XFL season, Pittsburgh was one of his top choices as he cited all of the connections he already formed with the organization.

“There was a lot of connections going on in the spring, a lot of people I know on the Steelers,” Butler said. “They believed in me. They’d been talking to my people for a while.”

While Butler will need to impress the coaches enough to separate himself from a crowded wide receiver room, he feels like he has nothing to prove to anybody outside of the building. This mindset will allow him to maintain confidence in not only himself but his level of play this season.

“I really don’t have anything to prove to anybody, really,” he said. “For my whole life, I just wanted to prove everybody wrong, and that shit is very draining, constantly worrying about people that don’t give a damn about you. So, like I said, I’m just having fun, enjoying the game that I love, and letting the chips fall where they may… This is a chance and I’m just trying to take advantage of it every day.”

Wherever the chips fall, Butler is taking in every second of this chance with the Steelers.

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21 • Hakeem Butler, Wide Receiver, Iowa State
6-foot-5, 227 pounds, 27 years old, 3rd Season

Acquired: The Steelers signed Butler to a one-year contract on May 16, 2023, after he was released from his XFL contract with the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Last Season: Butler spent the 2022 season in the XFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks and produced with the best of the bunch in the XFL. Butler played in 10 games for the Battlehawks and hauled in a league-leading eight receiving touchdowns. He also added 51 receptions for 599 yards, which both ranked second among XFL wide receivers last season.

Pro Football Focus gave Butler a 73.7 rating for the 2022 XFL season. Following the conclusion of the season, Butler was released from his contract to have the chance to explore NFL options.

Steelers wide receiver Hakeem Butler (88) with the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2023.

Career: The Arizona Cardinals drafted Butler with the 103rd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Butler suffered a broken hand in the 2019 preseason which caused him to miss his entire rookie season. Butler was released by the Cardinals prior to the 2020 season and never played a regular-season snap for the organization.

After his release from the Cardinals, Butler signed with the Carolina Panthers and was put on their practice squad. Roughly a week later, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Butler to their active roster and converted him into a tight end. He appeared in two games for the Eagles but failed to record a catch on just one target. At the end of October, Butler was released and then re-signed to the Eagles’ practice squad where he spent the rest of the season.

Butler signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles prior to the 2021 season but was a part of the team’s final roster cuts in August.

In February of 2022, Butler signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League but was cut prior to the season. He then signed with the Edmonton Elks of the CFL but was yet again released.

On Jan. 1, 2023, Butler was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft by the St. Louis Battlehawks.

College: Butler committed to Iowa State University and sat out the 2015 season on a redshirt. Butler chose Iowa State over Houston and New Mexico State. In 2016, Butler appeared in 11 games and hauled on 9 receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns. His first collegiate catch was a one-handed leaping touchdown grab.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2017, Butler saw action in 13 games for the Cyclones. He stepped up in his second season of playing as he finished the year with 41 receptions for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. Butler recorded two 100-yard games and had four receptions of 50-plus yards as a sophomore. Following the season, Butler earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.

In 2018, Butler broke the school record for receiving yards in a season with 1,318 yards on 60 receptions. He hauled in nine touchdowns and averaged 22 yards per catch as a junior.

In total, Butler played in 37 games for the Cyclones and hauled in 110 passes for 2,149 yards and 18 touchdowns. He finished his Iowa State career with the fourth most receiving yard in school history and the third most receiving touchdowns.

Salary cap and future: Butler is signed to a one-year deal and will cost $870,000 against the Steelers’ 2023 cap space if he makes the final roster. The Steelers can cut Butler and not incur any dead money if they chose to go that route. Butler will become an exclusive rights-free agent following this season.

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