Malcolm Butler, two-time Super Bowl champion and 2009 Vicksburg High School graduate, will be honorary grand marshal of Downtown Vicksburg’s 16th annual Mardi Gras parade.

Butler, a cornerback for the New England Patriots, was the hero of the 2015 Super Bowl during his first season when he snagged a last minute interception to foil a game-winning drive by the Seattle Seahawks.

This year, Butler and his Patriot teammates engineered a stunning comeback to win the 2017 Super Bowl.

Butler earned a scholarship to Hinds Community College and later played at the University of West Alabama.

On May 19, 2014, he signed with the New England Patriots after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. He made his first start on Dec. 14, 2014, where he made two tackles.

“I am excited that our ‘Hometown Hero’ Malcolm Butler will be serving as the ‘Honorary’ Grand Marshall at our annual Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, Feb. 25,” said Mayor George Flaggs Jr. “Malcolm has inspired so many people in our community to showcase their incredible skills and talents. He never gave up on his dreams, and he proved that through hard work and a strong faith in God, anything in life can be accomplished. Because of his dedication and commitment, he is now a 2-time Super Bowl Champion!”

“Butler inspires the children of Vicksburg to dream big by having the Malcolm Butler Football Camp each year. We are honored to have Butler participate in the 16th Annual Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Vicksburg,” said Kim Hopkins with the Vicksburg Main Street Program.

The parade will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. in downtown Vicksburg.

“It’s time for catching beads, king cake, fantastic masks, flamboyant costumes, stars, floats and best of all parades,” Hopkins said.

The parade will begin on Belmont Street and the route will follow along Washington Street traveling North on Washington Street to Jackson Street.

For more information about the parade, contact Kim Hopkins with Vicksburg Main Street Program at 601-634-4527 or 601-831-8043 or email kimh@vicksburg.org.

For more information about the Gators football booster Club/Malcolm Butler football camp contact Cynthia Bell at 601-529-7470.