[1] In the NFL, Butler was the leading rusher for the Atlanta Falcons in each of his four seasons with the team (1968-1971), and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1969.

Butler played collegiately for Edward Waters College, a small historically black university located in Jacksonville.

[3] Butler was selected in round 14 of the 1965 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who made him that year's 186th pick overall.

He played halfback for the Steelers for three years, gaining a little more than 500 yards rushing and an additional 233 catching passes out of the backfield.

[3] During his later years Butler suffered from dementia,[3] a common ailment among aging football players of his era due to repetitive brain injury.