Butterfield was a three-sport athlete for Antioch High School, participating in baseball, basketball and football. He was considered the 7th best quarterback in the nation during the 1992 recruiting cycle and ultimately signed with Stanford.[1]
Butterfield spent his first three seasons on campus as backup to Steve Stenstrom. Upon assuming starting duties in his senior year, Butterfield accumulated 2,533 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions on a 58.3% completion rate. Stanford had a 7-3-1 record during the regular season, losing the 1995 Liberty BowltoEast Carolina.[2] He earned second-team All-Pac 10 honors for his efforts.
After going undrafted in 1996, Butterfield joined the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. The Chicago Bears signed Butterfield to their active roster in response to a string of injuries suffered by multiple quarterbacks, including former Stanford teammate Steve Stenstrom.[3][4] He served as the Bears' third string quarterback.
Butterfield would later spend time in NFL Europe, which included durations with the Scottish Claymores and Frankfurt Galaxy.[5]
Butterfield is the father of former Oregon and current San Jose State quarterback Jay Butterfield, who was ranked as the 5th overall pro style quarterback prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle by 247Sports.[6][7]
