Former Michigan State football CB got first-ever NFL start on Monday night

Josh Butler has had one heck of post-high school career. The former Michigan State football cornerback lost both of his parents while he was in college and did the “Senior Day” walk out of the tunnel with Mark Dantonio and his two dogs. It was a heartbreaking moment for all who witnessed it and it showed just how tough of a guy he was.

Since college, he has bounced around from making his dogs social media famous to signing with the Michigan Panthers of the UFL and then signing with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

It’s been quite the long, winding road for the former Michigan State star.

So when he was signed off the practice squad prior to Monday night’s game by the Cowboys, he had plenty of people cheering him on. And then he was named a starter ahead of the game, facing Tank Dell for most of the night in his first-ever NFL start.

And while he didn’t have the best game as the Cowboys lost 34-10, he held his own and finished with five tackles and a pass breakup.

MSU product Josh Butler started for the Cowboys last night and finished with 5 tackles and a pass breakup.https://t.co/eBgkU0yRuE https://t.co/SKjRur1JKc

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) November 19, 2024

Butler played fairly well despite getting burned on a couple of plays and crashing too hard on one Joe Mixon touchdown at the goal line, but it was his first start in the NFL and he didn’t look completely out of place. He showed that he belonged on that stage and he’s only going to get better the more opportunities he gets.

The best part about this whole surprise start is the fact that he was born in Dallas and he got to start his first career game in his hometown in front of friends and family against another Lone Star State team.

Hopefully this isn’t Butler’s last NFL start because it was fun to root him on even with no other rooting interest in Monday night’s game.

A first career start in your hometown on Monday Night Football after fighting to make the roster? That’s pretty cool.