Another former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver is finding his way back into the NFL — this time with a new opportunity out west.
Hakeem Butler has signed an offseason deal with the Denver Broncos, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The move gives the former Steelers preseason and training camp receiver another chance to earn a roster spot ahead of minicamp, which runs June 16–18.
Butler most recently turned heads in the UFL, where he put together a standout season for the St. Louis Battlehawks. He led the league with 641 receiving yards on just 29 catches and was named Offensive Player of the Year, re-establishing himself as a legitimate NFL hopeful.
His path back to the league has been anything but straightforward.
Originally drafted in the fourth round (103rd overall) by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, Butler’s rookie year was derailed by a broken hand, costing him the entire season. From there, his NFL journey became a cycle of short stints and constant movement — stops with the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, a position switch to tight end, and eventually a transition to the CFL and spring leagues.
Even when he briefly reached the NFL field with the Eagles in 2020, opportunities were limited, and he finished that stint with just one target and no receptions.
Butler resurfaced in the XFL/UFL with strong production, including a 2023 season that featured 51 receptions, 599 yards, and eight touchdowns before he was briefly picked up by the Steelers for training camp. An injury ended that opportunity before it could develop, sending him back to the Battlehawks, where he has since piled up more than 2,000 receiving yards across multiple seasons.
Now, Denver becomes his next stop, arriving just days after former Steelers receiver Brandon Johnson also landed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
For Pittsburgh, the timing is notable but not disruptive. The team has already wrapped its offseason program and heads into training camp with a significantly deeper receiver room than in recent years.
DK Metcalf leads the group, while offseason additions and draft picks have reshaped the depth chart. Veterans and developmental players alike will compete for limited roles behind the top options, leaving little room for additional experiments like Butler — at least for now.
For Butler, though, the opportunity is simple: another camp, another system, and another chance to finally turn a long, winding career path into a permanent NFL roster spot.
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