NFL veteran safety Devin McCourty has officially announced his retirement. McCourty, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time Super Bowl champion, spent the entirety of his 13-year career with the New England Patriots.
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Devin McCourty, New England Patriots Legend, Announces Retirement
Despite his relatively advanced age, Devin McCourty was still playing at a high level in 2022. While he wasn’t quite as good as he was at his peak, the safety still played a pivotal role on one of the best defenses in football. Appearing and starting in all 17 games, the Rutgers alum finished the season with four interceptions, eight passes defended, one fumble recovery, and 71 tackles.
McCourty originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Selected by the Patriots, the Rutgers product immediately made a huge impact on the defense – but not at safety. Originally starting his career at cornerback, McCourty finished his inaugural NFL campaign with seven interceptions, 27 passes defended, two forced fumbles, one sack, 82 tackles, and three tackles-for-loss. This impressive performance resulted in the first Pro Bowl selection of his career.
Despite the promising rookie season, McCourty struggled heavily in Year 2. Still playing cornerback, the first-round pick struggled to match up against receivers in coverage and ultimately had the worst season of his career. He remained at cornerback early in 2012 before moving to safety once the Patriots traded for cornerback Aqib Talib.
Now a full-time safety, Devin McCourty quickly established himself as one of the best in the league at the position, as well as worn of the most important parts of the Patriots second dynasty. Over the next decade, McCourty won three Super Bowls, played on another, made another Pro Bowl, and served as a bawl-hawking center fielder that took away the deep pass while providing strong support in the run game. Ultimately, he’s a lock for the Patriots Hall of Fame when eligible.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
