Patriots Super Bowl champ Devin McCourty announces retirement from NFL
McCourty won three Super Bowls in this 13 seasons with the Patriots.
New England Patriots three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty has officially decided to retire from the NFL.
McCourty, who was set to hit the open market next week, made his decision three days before the start of the NFL’s free-agent open tampering period.
"I'm officially retiring from the NFL. It has been a great ride," McCourty said Friday in an Instagram reel posted with his twin brother Jason. "I think it's always tough to come to the end. This whole offseason has been so much back and forth for me mentally, but ultimately I think this is the best decision for me, for my family, and my career."
McCourty said he was able to speak with head coach Bill Belichick, owner Robert Kraft and members of the Patriots’ defensive coaching staff before announcing his decision.
McCourty was selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Rutgers as a cornerback. He provided much-needed stability to the free safety position beginning in 2012 and started Super Bowls and made Pro Bowls at both positions. He also won Super Bowl LIII his brother as a teammate.
“As a Patriots fan, it’s always bittersweet to see such an iconic player announce his retirement, but I couldn’t be happier for Devin, Michelle, and the McCourty family or more thankful to his mother, Phyllis,” said Kraft said in a statement. “Through his individual performance and overall leadership, Devin has been such an important part of the success we have enjoyed over the past 13 seasons, including each of our last three Super Bowl championships. As great as his contributions were on the field, he made an even greater impact in the community, taking a leadership role in his advocacy for finding a cure for sickle cell anemia, effecting legislative change for criminal justice reform, and championing countless other educational and economical advancement initiatives. We couldn’t have asked for a better leader and ambassador, both on and off the field.”
McCourty was a 12-time team captain for the Patriots beginning in just his second season. He started in five Super Bowls and 205 regular-season games in New England, amassing 982 tackles and 35 interceptions. He also started 24 playoff games during his 13 seasons.
“It is a rare group of players who win games at a historic rate, exude team culture, lead, win awards, and win championships,” Belichick said in a statement. “And then there is Devin McCourty. Devin did all of those things as a player and more. But, what I think of first when I think of Devin is the type of man he is, his character, his values and how high he raised the bar for spreading goodness and justice in the community. For 13 years, Devin made everyone in our organization feel better and be better because of who he is – a pillar of professionalism, unselfishness, work ethic, preparation, intelligence and performance. I am excited to see him bring those same traits to his next chapter and brighten the lives of even more people.”
McCourty was one of the most important Patriots players during the second phase of their dynasty under Belichick. He was one of the top team leaders, communicators and locker room guys over his 13-year career. McCourty said he’s unsure what he’ll do next, though he’d be a natural to follow his twin brother into media. McCourty has already received local reps on TV and been a part of CBS’s broadcast team last season during a bye week and in the postseason.
Featured image via Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
