What happens to Super Bowl footballs used during a game? Like the football that was intercepted by Butler to seal the Patriots win. In baseball a player frequently gets to keep the ball he hit for his first hit, or a record number hit, say 2,000 (providing they aren't home runs) or the last out of a game by a pitcher. Would Butler get to keep the ball he intercepted or would any player get to keep the ball from an important play?