Matthew Butler Bio
Matthew Edward Butler is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and playing at 305 pounds, Butler plays a rotational role on the interior defensive line. He was originally selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders and joined the Dolphins in 2025 after being claimed off waivers.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Edward Butler was born on June 10, 1999, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He grew up in the region and attended Garner Magnet High School in Garner, North Carolina, where he suited up for the Trojans football program. His size and quickness off the edge quickly marked him as a high-upside defensive line prospect in the greater Triangle area of North Carolina.
During his senior season at Garner Magnet High School, Butler delivered a dominant statistical campaign, recording 96 tackles and 26 sacks. Those numbers drew attention from college recruiters across the Southeast and helped establish him as one of the top interior defensive line prospects in the state of North Carolina. Following his high school career, he committed to continue his football journey at the University of Tennessee.
Path to American Football
Butler arrived at the University of Tennessee in 2017 and spent five seasons developing with the Volunteers program. He played under three different head coaches during his time in Knoxville, working under Butch Jones, Jeremy Pruitt, and Josh Heupel. Each coaching transition required him to adapt to new schemes and coaching philosophies along the defensive front.
Over the course of his college career, Butler appeared in 52 games for the Volunteers and made 25 starts, accumulating 152 tackles and 9.5 sacks. His combination of production, durability, and experience as a multi-year starter positioned him as an NFL prospect. Following the 2021 season, he declared for the 2022 NFL draft, where the Las Vegas Raiders selected him in the fifth round with the 175th overall pick.
Matthew Butler Career
Early Career (2022)
Matthew Edward Butler began his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He made his NFL debut in Week 3 of the 2022 season against the Tennessee Titans, a meaningful first appearance against the program where he had just spent his college years. During his rookie season, Butler appeared in six games as he adjusted to the speed and physicality of the professional level.
Las Vegas Raiders (2022-2024)
Butler’s tenure in Las Vegas included multiple stints on the practice squad. On August 29, 2023, he was waived by the Raiders and re-signed to the practice squad, where he continued to develop before being promoted back to the active roster on January 6, 2024. He contributed on the defensive line during the final stretch of that 2023 campaign.
His role remained rotational in 2024. On August 27, 2024, Butler was again waived by the Raiders and re-signed to the practice squad, before being signed back to the active roster on October 10, 2024. He finished his Raiders tenure with career NFL totals of 15 tackles and 0.5 sacks through the 2024 season, having provided depth along the interior of the defensive line.
Miami Dolphins (2025-Present)
Butler’s path to Miami began with a brief return to the Raiders. On March 26, 2025, he re-signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, only to be waived on May 12, 2025. The very next day, on May 13, 2025, Butler was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins, giving him a fresh opportunity on an active NFL roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Butler brings a combination of size, length, and power to the defensive tackle position. His college production at Tennessee, including 9.5 sacks across 52 games, showcased his ability to disrupt the backfield. In the NFL, he has served primarily as a rotational interior lineman, using his 6-foot-3 frame and 305-pound build to anchor against the run while flashing pass-rush potential on passing downs.
Notable Events and Milestones
A signature milestone in Butler’s career came when he was selected with the 175th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. His Week 3 debut against the Tennessee Titans in 2022 marked his first regular-season NFL action, and his move to the Miami Dolphins in May 2025 represented another major chapter in his professional journey.
Matthew Butler Family
Personal Life
Matthew Edward Butler was raised in the Fayetteville, North Carolina area before moving to nearby Garner for high school, where he played for the Garner Magnet Trojans. Publicly available verified details about his parents, marital status, and children are not available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Butler joined the Miami Dolphins in mid-May 2025 after being claimed off waivers, providing the team with experienced depth on the interior defensive line. His signing came just one day after being waived by the Las Vegas Raiders, allowing him to step into a defensive tackle room that values versatile rotation pieces.
Throughout the 2025 season, Butler worked to carve out a role within the Dolphins’ defensive front, contributing on early downs and in pass-rush packages. His prior NFL experience, including 15 career tackles and 0.5 sacks through the 2024 season, gave him a foundation to build on as he adjusted to Miami’s defensive scheme.
Looking ahead, Butler’s standing with the Dolphins was extended when he re-signed with the team on March 12, 2026, signaling the franchise’s continued confidence in his role along the defensive line. His combination of size, prior starting experience at Tennessee, and familiarity with NFL-level competition positions him as a depth piece with starting potential moving forward.