FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Cornerback Malcolm Butler is returning to the New England Patriots, where he went from Super Bowl star to the bench.

The hero of the Patriots’ 2014 championship – who was inexplicably benched for New England’s appearance in the Super Bowl three years later – agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $9 million, his agent, Derek Simpson confirmed Wednesday. Butler, 32, sat out the 2021 season for personal reasons.