Josh Butler Bio
Josh Butler (born November 25, 1996) is an American professional football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed at 192 pounds, he wears jersey number 31 and is listed as active on the Cowboys roster. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans before graduating in 2018, and he also spent time with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL).
Undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Butler has built his professional career through developmental leagues and practice squad opportunities, working his way onto an active NFL roster. He is recognized for his special-teams background, his versatility in the secondary, and his resilience through personal adversity.
Early Life and Background
Josh Butler was born on November 25, 1996, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in the Dallas area and attended West Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas, where he developed into a college prospect at the cornerback position. During his final two high school seasons, he served as a starting cornerback for the Wrangators and became one of the more closely watched defensive backs in the region.
Rivals.com ranked Butler as the 241st best overall prospect in the nation and the 26th best cornerback in his recruiting class. In addition to his work on defense, he saw action as a return specialist and occasionally lined up as a wildcat quarterback, demonstrating the kind of versatility that would later help him carve out a role on special teams in college and the professional ranks.
Path to American Football
Butler committed to Michigan State University, joining a Spartans program with a long tradition of producing NFL defensive backs. He redshirted his first year on campus, using the season to develop his body and learn the defensive scheme. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, he appeared in 11 games, with most of his snaps coming on special teams as he worked to earn a larger defensive role.
By his sophomore season in 2017, Butler had earned four starts at cornerback and recorded 12 tackles. The following year, he started five games and posted 10 tackles along with three passes defended. His senior season in 2018 included seven starts and 25 tackles with five pass breakups, though an injury caused him to miss time. During his senior night at Michigan State, he walked the field accompanied by his two dogs, Roxy and Remi, in a moment that drew attention on social media.
Josh Butler Career
Early Career (2021)
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Butler worked to find a professional opportunity. In 2021, he joined the Conquerors of The Spring League, a developmental football league designed to give talented players a platform to showcase their abilities in front of NFL scouts. His time with the Conquerors allowed him to stay on the field and continue refining his technique as a cornerback.
Michigan Panthers Era (2023)
On March 22, 2023, Butler agreed to terms with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League, joining a franchise preparing for its second USFL season. The move gave him a chance to play a full spring schedule against professional-level competition after his developmental work in 2021.
Butler started all 11 games for the Panthers, including the postseason, and tallied 35 tackles along with 4 passes defended. His reliable play on the outside helped solidify the Panthers secondary, and his performance drew the attention of NFL teams looking for depth at cornerback.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2023–Present)
On July 25, 2023, the Dallas Cowboys signed Butler to their preseason roster, giving the hometown product a chance to compete for a role in his native Texas. During the preseason, he collected 9 tackles and a tackle-for-loss, while also defending 2 passes in the final preseason game. Although he was released from the 53-man roster, he was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, keeping him within the organization.
He signed a reserve/future contract on January 15, 2024, and continued to develop with the team through the offseason. Butler was waived on August 27, 2024, and was re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on November 18. In five games that season, he totaled 5 pass deflections, 1 sack, and 21 combined tackles, showing the kind of playmaking ability the Cowboys had hoped to unlock. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 13 against the New York Giants and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Butler is a physical, instinctive cornerback whose best traits show up in man coverage and on special teams. He has the length and length-adjusted quickness to challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage, and his experience as a return specialist in high school has translated into a willingness to play through contact. His work in developmental and spring leagues has also given him a strong understanding of route combinations and an ability to read quarterbacks’ eyes in zone coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Butler’s career are his viral senior night walk at Michigan State with his dogs Roxy and Remi, his full-season starting role with the Michigan Panthers, and his first NFL regular-season action with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. His first career NFL sack and multiple pass deflections in limited 2024 snaps marked his arrival as a meaningful contributor at the league’s highest level.
Josh Butler Career Wins
As a cornerback, Josh Butler’s statistical milestones are measured in tackles, passes defended, and turnovers rather than wins in the traditional sense. Across his verified professional stops with the Conquerors, the Michigan Panthers, and the Dallas Cowboys, he has accumulated more than 60 tackles and multiple pass deflections, with his 2024 NFL totals including 5 pass deflections, 1 sack, and 21 combined tackles for Dallas.
USFL Highlights
Butler’s most complete professional season came with the Michigan Panthers in 2023, when he started all 11 games including the postseason. He finished the year with 35 tackles and 4 passes defended, establishing himself as a reliable outside corner and a candidate for NFL opportunities.
Other Wins & Performances
With the Conquerors of The Spring League in 2021, Butler gained valuable developmental experience that helped him re-enter the professional pipeline. His 2024 work with the Dallas Cowboys, including 5 games of NFL action and a career-first sack, represents the strongest stretch of his top-level career to date.
| League | Games | Tackles | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Panthers (USFL, 2023) | 11 | 35 | 4 |
| Dallas Cowboys (NFL, 2024) | 5 | 21 | 5 |
Josh Butler Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Family is central to Josh Butler’s story. He lost both of his parents during his time at Michigan State, a personal hardship that he has spoken about in the context of his football journey. He maintains close ties to the Dallas area, where he grew up and where he now plays for his hometown Cowboys.
Personal Life
Butler is known for his close relationship with his two dogs, Roxy and Remi, who accompanied him on his senior night walk at Spartan Stadium in a moment that became widely shared on social media. He continues to be based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area as a member of the Dallas Cowboys organization.
2025 Season Performance
Josh Butler enters the 2025 season looking to build on the momentum of his first NFL regular-season action in 2024, when he recorded 5 pass deflections, 1 sack, and 21 combined tackles across five games with the Dallas Cowboys before a torn ACL cut his campaign short in Week 13. His recovery timeline and readiness for the start of the 2025 season will be a key storyline for the Cowboys secondary and their cornerback rotation.
If healthy, Butler is expected to compete for a role on the active roster and contribute on special teams, where his open-field speed and tackling reliability project well. The Cowboys’ defensive staff has consistently praised his work ethic and his approach in the meeting room, two factors that helped him move from the practice squad to the active roster in 2024.
With a full offseason to rehab and continue developing within the Dallas system, Butler has an opportunity to establish himself as a long-term piece of the Cowboys’ secondary. His path from undrafted free agent to developmental leagues to the NFL active roster underscores the kind of perseverance that defines his career arc heading into 2025.
