Hakeem Butler Bio
Hakeem Butler (born May 16, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and listed around 242 pounds, Butler has built his career on size, length, and red-zone ability. He played college football at Iowa State before being selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Across his professional career, Butler has spent time with multiple NFL, CFL, and UFL organizations, earning recognition as one of the top receivers in the spring football ranks.
After a challenging start to his NFL journey, Butler reinvented himself in the UFL, where he became a dominant pass catcher for the St. Louis Battlehawks. His production with the Battlehawks brought him leaguewide honors and several opportunities to return to NFL rosters. Most recently, he signed with the Denver Broncos in 2026, continuing his pursuit of a long-term NFL role.
Early Life and Background
Hakeem Butler was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 16, 1996. He grew up alongside one sister and a younger brother, experiencing both the closeness of family and the hardship of early loss. When Butler was 16 years old, his mother, Sherryl, passed away after a battle with breast cancer, a moment that reshaped his outlook and motivated his drive toward athletics.
Following his mother’s passing, Butler relocated to Houston, Texas, where he lived with his aunt and uncle. In Houston, he shared a home with his cousins Aaron Harrison and Andrew Harrison, both of whom later became known as former Kentucky basketball stars. The athletic environment of that household helped shape Butler’s competitive foundation. He attended Travis High School in the Fort Bend area of Texas, where he developed into a college-ready wide receiver prospect.
After high school, Butler committed to Iowa State University, choosing the Cyclones over programs such as New Mexico and Houston. His decision marked the beginning of a college journey that would eventually launch him into professional football.
Path to American Football
Butler’s path to American football began on the fields of Texas, where his height, length, and catching radius quickly separated him from peers. At Travis High School, he developed the physical tools that would later define his professional profile, including his frame, body control, and ability to win contested catches. Those skills drew attention from multiple college programs before he settled on Iowa State.
Once he arrived in Ames, Butler redshirted his first year in 2015, using the time to adjust to the college game and add strength to his frame. In 2016, he appeared in 11 games and posted nine receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns, offering an early glimpse of his potential. By his sophomore season in 2017, Butler was emerging as a featured target, recording 41 receptions for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. His junior season in 2018 turned him into a national name, as he totaled 60 receptions for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns while breaking the Iowa State single-season receiving yards record.
Following his record-setting junior campaign, Butler chose to forgo his senior year and declare for the 2019 NFL draft. That decision launched his professional career and ultimately connected him with the Arizona Cardinals.
Hakeem Butler Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Hakeem Butler entered the NFL in 2019 after being selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round with the 103rd overall pick. His rookie season, however, was cut short when he suffered a broken hand in preseason and was placed on injured reserve on August 25, 2019. That injury forced him to miss his entire first year, slowing the momentum he had built at Iowa State. The Cardinals waived Butler on September 4, 2020, ending his time in Arizona.
Shortly after his release, Butler joined the Carolina Panthers practice squad on September 18, 2020. Less than two weeks later, on September 29, 2020, the Philadelphia Eagles signed him off the Panthers’ practice squad and converted him into a tight end. He was waived on October 31, re-signed to the practice squad two days later, and later signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles in January 2021. The Eagles ultimately waived him in August 2021, closing his initial NFL chapter.
BC Lions and Edmonton Elks Era (2022)
In February 2022, Butler signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, looking to revive his career north of the border. He was released in early cuts at training camp on May 23, 2022, ending a short stay in British Columbia. The Lions parted ways with him before the regular season began, but Butler’s CFL journey was not yet finished.
On July 5, 2022, Butler signed with the Edmonton Elks and was placed on the team’s practice roster. He remained with the Elks for just over a month before being released on August 16, 2022. Across both CFL stops, Butler’s playing time was limited, but the experience gave him a platform to keep pursuing professional opportunities.
St. Louis Battlehawks Breakthrough (2023)
On January 1, 2023, Butler was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL in the fifth round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft. The move to spring football gave him the opportunity to return to his natural wide receiver position. In his first stint with the Battlehawks, he produced 51 receptions for 599 yards and eight touchdowns, finishing the season as one of the league’s most reliable pass catchers. He was released on May 15, 2023, after the XFL season concluded.
The strong spring showing earned Butler another NFL opportunity. On May 16, 2023, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was waived with an injury designation on August 21, reverted to injured reserve, and was released by the Steelers on August 25, 2023. Just a few months later, on December 4, 2023, Butler re-signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks, returning to the league where his production had begun to trend upward.
St. Louis Battlehawks Second Stint and Cincinnati Bengals (2024)
During the 2024 UFL season, Butler cemented himself as one of the league’s premier receivers. He was named to the 2024 All-UFL team on June 5, 2024, and on June 7, he was honored as the UFL Offensive Player of the Year. He finished that season with 45 receptions for 652 receiving yards and five touchdowns, capping his most decorated spring campaign to that point.
On July 26, 2024, Butler signed with the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. He was released by the Bengals on August 23, 2024, as teams finalized their regular-season rosters. The brief Bengals stint did not produce regular-season statistics but kept him within NFL circles as he returned once again to the Battlehawks in 2025.
St. Louis Battlehawks Third Stint (2025–2026)
Butler re-signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks on January 2, 2025, and remained with the team into the 2026 UFL season. On January 13, 2026, he again signed with the Battlehawks via the 2026 draft reserve list. Across nine appearances that season, he recorded 641 receiving yards and three touchdowns, finishing just 29 yards shy of the UFL single-season receiving record of 670 yards set by Jahcour Pearson in 2023. On June 10, 2026, Butler was named the UFL Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career, validating his status as one of the spring league’s elite wideouts.
Denver Broncos Era (2026–Present)
On June 15, 2026, Hakeem Butler signed with the Denver Broncos of the NFL, marking his return to a league-level roster after consecutive UFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Broncos added him as part of their wide receiver group, looking to leverage his size and red-zone skill set. His arrival in Denver represented another opportunity to establish himself as a consistent NFL contributor after several years of movement between leagues.
Driving Style and Strengths
Butler is a tall, long wide receiver whose game is built on winning at the catch point. His height and wingspan make him a reliable target on back-shoulder throws, jump balls, and red-zone fades. He pairs that size with the route-running polish he developed at Iowa State, allowing him to attack both intermediate zones and the deep portions of the field. His production in the UFL, where he led the league in receiving yards and won multiple Offensive Player of the Year awards, reflects how well his traits translate to spread and pro-style passing attacks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Butler’s signature achievements, his record-breaking 1,318-yard junior season at Iowa State stands out as the launch point for his professional career. In the UFL, he earned back-to-back Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2024 and 2026, becoming a defining face of the St. Louis Battlehawks. He also narrowly missed the UFL single-season receiving record in 2026, finishing 29 yards short of Jahcour Pearson’s mark. Each of these moments has helped shape Butler’s reputation as a resilient and productive receiver.
Hakeem Butler Career Wins
While Butler’s career has been defined more by statistical production than by championship trophies, his individual awards tell the story of a player who has consistently delivered at his level. Across the UFL, he has earned two Offensive Player of the Year awards and two All-UFL selections, along with an All-XFL nod in 2023. In college, he was recognized as a Second-Team All-American and Second-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2018. His combined trophy case reflects steady excellence rather than single dominant championship moments.
XFL/UFL Highlights
Butler’s most productive stretch came with the St. Louis Battlehawks across the XFL and UFL. In his first Battlehawks stint during the 2023 XFL season, he totaled 51 receptions for 599 yards and eight touchdowns. He returned in 2024 to earn All-UFL honors and the UFL Offensive Player of the Year award, finishing with 45 receptions for 652 yards and five touchdowns. In 2026, he added 641 receiving yards and three touchdowns while winning his second UFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of his spring football production, Butler’s other standout performance came during his junior season at Iowa State in 2018, when he set the school’s single-season receiving yards record with 1,318 yards. He followed that campaign with a fourth-round selection in the 2019 NFL draft, validating his college résumé. Together, his college peak and UFL consistency form the core of his on-field résumé.
Hakeem Butler Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hakeem Butler comes from a family rooted in resilience and athletic influence. After losing his mother, Sherryl, to breast cancer when he was 16, he moved to Houston to live with his aunt and uncle. That household included his cousins Aaron Harrison and Andrew Harrison, both of whom went on to play basketball at the University of Kentucky. The athletic pedigree surrounding him helped shape his competitive mindset and his path into organized sports.
Personal Life
Butler grew up with one sister and a younger brother, with whom he has maintained close family ties. Public information about his current personal relationships, including marital status and children, is not widely confirmed. He is an American by nationality and has spent the bulk of his professional career in the United States, with brief stops in Canada during his CFL stints with the BC Lions and Edmonton Elks.
2025 Season Performance
Hakeem Butler’s 2025 season was centered on his continued role with the St. Louis Battlehawks, where he remained one of the team’s primary offensive weapons. He re-signed with the Battlehawks on January 2, 2025, locking in his spot in the receiver rotation. Throughout the season, his combination of size, catch radius, and experience gave St. Louis a reliable downfield option in both standard and red-zone situations.
Heading into 2025, Butler’s recent UFL résumé made him a proven target. After being named the 2024 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, he carried momentum into the new campaign and continued to produce at a high level. His consistency kept him among the league’s statistical leaders and reinforced his standing as one of the Battlehawks’ most trusted receivers.
Looking ahead from the 2025 season, Butler’s outlook remains tied to producing in spring football while remaining ready for any NFL opportunity. His history of brief NFL stints shows that roster chances can come quickly, and his UFL production has repeatedly put him in that position. Continued strong showings with the Battlehawks gave him a clear platform to push for a longer NFL role.