“It Was F*king WWF Out There”: Julian Edelman Relives What Transpired at Super Bowl 49 After Malcolm Butler Interception

Nov 27, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) during warmups prior to playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Patriots defeated the Eagles 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

In what can only be described as one of the most infamous moments in Super Bowl history, the Seattle Seahawks franchise remains haunted by its decision not to run the ball on second and goal in the waning moments of Super Bowl XLIX.

After his team found themselves in a position to take the lead with 24 seconds remaining in the contest, Pete Carroll ignominiously called for Russell Wilson to deliver the game-winning touchdown pass in an attempt to immortalize him as a Super Bowl legend.

The rest, they say, is history. Wilson’s arrant inside pass resulted in a Malcolm Butler interception, securing a then fourth Lombardi trophy for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

The moments following the play, however, are often forgotten.

Realizing that they had just immortalized themselves for all of the wrong reasons, members of the Seattle offense were overcome with emotions.

However, the Patriots still had to snap the ball on their own one-yard line with 18 seconds left in the game.

Unfortunately, an offsides penalty on Michael Bennett crushed what little hope the Seahawks had left and gifted the Patriots with a free opportunity at performing the coveted victory formation.

“I want to say it was a QB sneak because we needed to gain some room. You couldn’t take a knee, so it was a QB sneak.

We were actually on high alert like boys, we need to execute this play. The game is not over. Thankfully, Mike jumped off sides and that was the game.”

While the victory itself is fondly remembered throughout New England, the moments following the offside are often omitted whenever the NFL recounts the story.

Clearly frustrated by the all-time blunder, members of the Seahawks roster quickly turned from shoving to throwing blows at Gronkowski and the rest of the Patriots of the Patriots’ offense.

Bewildered by the inter-team brawl leading up to their championship victory, Edelman exclaimed that,

“We had melee after melee. Man, it was f*cking WWF out there… Gronk and Michael just f*cking throwing haymakers. It was kind of at the point where I bet ya, looking back on it, you could probably throw a couple punches in and not get suspended.”

While the end of the contest may not have been the perfect depiction of sportsmanship that the NFL had hoped for, it certainly made for a wild ending to one of the most memorable Super Bowls in recent years.

While Edelman proved to be right about there being no suspensions tied to the participants of the championship scuffle, those involved didn’t get away unpunished. One of the main instigators of the debacle, Bruce Irvin, received a $10,000 fine.

Likewise, Bennett, Gronkowski, and Michael Hoomanawanui each received their own fines of $8,628.

Thankfully, the brawl has become less of a talking point, as fans tend to remember Butler’s career-defining play rather than the uglier side of the game that is gridiron football.

Considering that nothing like this has really occurred since that day, it’s fair to say that the end-of-season fines proved to be enough to dissuade future competitors from engaging in such behavior while competing on the national stage.

The NFL seemingly succeeded in its attempt to revise its history.

​In the annals of NFL history, few moments are as electrifying and consequential as the closing seconds of Super Bowl XLIX.

The New England Patriots secured a 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, a game often distilled into a single, game-changing play: Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception. However, the aftermath of that iconic moment was equally intense, as Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman vividly recounted.​

Reflecting on the chaotic scene that unfolded immediately after Butler’s interception, Edelman described the atmosphere as reminiscent of a wrestling match.

“We had melee after melee. Man, it was f*cking WWF out there,” he recalled. The tension on the field escalated rapidly, culminating in an all-out brawl between players from both teams. Edelman specifically highlighted the altercation involving Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, noting, “Gronk and Michael just f*cking throwing haymakers.” ​

The origins of this melee can be traced back to the Seahawks’ final offensive play. With less than a minute remaining and the ball on the Patriots’ one-yard line, Seattle opted for a pass play instead of utilizing their star running back, Marshawn Lynch.

This decision led to Butler’s now-legendary interception, a moment that stunned players and fans alike. Edelman provided insight into the Patriots’ mindset during those critical moments.

He revealed that the team was prepared for a quarterback sneak to gain some breathing room but remained on high alert.

“We were actually on high alert like boys, we need to execute this play. The game is not over,” he emphasized. ​

The Seahawks’ frustration was palpable. Realizing that their chance for a second consecutive Super Bowl victory had slipped away, emotions boiled over.

The ensuing skirmish saw multiple players exchanging blows, a scene rarely witnessed on such a grand stage. Edelman reflected on the surreal nature of the confrontation, suggesting that the heat of the moment might have led players to act out of character.

“It was kind of at the point where I bet ya, looking back on it, you could probably throw a couple punches in and not get suspended,” he mused. ​

While the NFL refrained from issuing suspensions, fines were levied against several players involved in the altercation.

Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin received a $10,000 fine for his role, while Bennett, Gronkowski, and Patriots tight end Michael Hoomanawanui were each fined $8,628.

These penalties underscored the league’s commitment to maintaining sportsmanship, even in the face of high-stakes competition. ​

Edelman’s candid recollections offer a glimpse into the raw emotions that define championship moments. Beyond the strategic plays and highlight reels, it’s the unfiltered human reactions that often leave the most lasting impressions.

Super Bowl XLIX will forever be remembered not just for Butler’s interception, but also for the intense passion and drama that encapsulated the final moments of the game.