Devin McCourty was signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 10, 2015 ... Originally drafted by New England in the first round (27th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS
Devin McCourty was signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 10, 2015 ... Originally drafted by New England in the first round (27th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Has been named a defensive captain eight times (2011-18).
- Selected to his first Pro Bowl in his first season, becoming the fourth Patriots player to be selected as a rookie (Mike Haynes, 1976; John Stephens, 1988; Curtis Martin, 1995).
- Also earned Pro Bowl honors in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
- Earned Associated Press All-Pro Second Team honors at safety in 2013 and 2016 and Second Team All-Pro honors as a rookie in 2010 when he played cornerback, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Rod Woodson and Ronnie Lott as the only NFL players to earn All-Pro honors at both safety and cornerback.
- His seven interceptions in 2010 are the second-most by a Patriots rookie in franchise history and tied for second in the NFL in 2010.
- Has started every NFL game that he has played in, regular season and playoffs.
- Began his pro career at cornerback (2010-11) before playing corner and safety in 2012 and making the full transition to safety in 2013.
SEASONAL REVIEWS
2018 (10/10)
- Named a co-captain for the eighth straight year.
- Started at safety in the season-opening victory vs. Houston (9/9) and finished with six tackles total as well as a special teams tackle. Also became just the third set of twins in NFL history to play together on the same field when he and his twin brother, Jason, were lined up next to each other during the opening kickoff.
- Made the start at safety and totaled three tackles in the matchup at Jacksonville (9/16).
- Started at safety and finished with five tackles total at Detroit (9/23).
- Made the start at safety and helped lead a secondary that held QB Ryan Tannehill to just 100 yards passing, while also adding three tackles in the win vs. Miami (9/30).
- Started and finished with a team-high 14 tackles, while also recovering a fumble he forced himself by stripping RB Jordan Wilkins of the ball in the third quarter of the victory vs. Indianapolis (10/4).
- Made the start at safety and finished with three tackles, while also adding a tackle on special teams during the victory vs. Kansas City (10/14).
- Started at safety and contributed with four tackles during the victory at Chicago (10/21).
- Started at safety and made two tackles while also adding a game-changing, 84-yard interception return for a touchdown that helped seal a victory for the Patriots in the matchup at Buffalo (10/29). McCourty lept in front of a late fourth quarter pass by QB Derek Anderson with the Patriots holding an 18-6 lead, which effectively sealed the victory by giving the Patriots a three-score lead with less than six minutes remaining in the game.
- Started at safety and finished with four total tackles and a pass defensed in the victory vs. Green Bay (11/4).
- Made the start at safety and finished with three tackles while also adding a special teams tackle in the game at Tennessee (11/11).
2017 (16/16, 3/3)
- Named a co-captain for the seventh-straight year.
- Earned his fourth career Pro Bowl invitation.
- Started all 16 regular-season games and tied a career-high with 94 tackles, notched one sack and one interception, defensed five passes and recovered one fumble. Also had three special teams tackles and returned two kickoffs for 15 yards.
- Started all three postseason contests and posted 17 tackles and two passes defensed.
- Started at safety and led the team with 10 tackles and added a fumble recovery on the opening drive of the season-opener vs. Kansas City (9/7).
- Started at safety and totaled 10 tackles in the victory while playing every defensive snap of the win vs. Houston (9/24).
- Made the start at safety and led the team with a season-high 11 tackles in the victory at Tampa Bay (10/5).
- Totaled five tackles while also adding a pass defensed and an interception of QB Josh McCown in the victory at N.Y. Jets (10/15).
- Started and tied for the team lead with seven tackles, while also adding an 11-yard sack of QB Jay Cutler at Miami (12/11).
- Started at safety and finished with seven tackles and added two passes defensed in Super Bowl LII vs. Philadelphia (2/4).
2016 (16/16, 3/3)
- Named a co-captain for the sixth straight year.
- Selected to his third career Pro Bowl and earned Associated Press All Pro: Second Team honors for the third time in his career.
- Started all 16 regular-season games and totaled 78 tackles, one interception, seven passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five special teams tackles. Also returned two kickoffs for 9 yards.
- Started all three playoff games and posted 14 tackles, one interception and one pass defensed.
- Led the team with nine tackles and one special teams tackle after making the start at safety in the season-opening win at Arizona (9/11).
- Recorded his first interception of the season and added a pass defensed as well as four total tackles in the win vs. Baltimore (12/12).
- Recovered a fumble by wide receiver Jordan Norwood with 23 seconds remaining to secure the win at Denver (12/18). Finished the game with five tackles and one pass defensed.
- Combined for a team-leading seven tackles and forced a key fourth-quarter fumble of RB Damien Williams at the New England 9-yard line that was recovered by LB Shea McClellin and returned 69 yards to help put the game away in the victory at Miami (1/1).
- Picked off a Houston pass in the third quarter of the Divisional Round victory vs. Houston (1/14) to mark his second postseason interception. Added five total tackles and one pass defensed.
2015 (14/14, 2/2)
- Named a co-captain for the fifth straight year.
- Started all 14 regular-season games he played and amassed 63 tackles, one sack, one interception, five passes defensed and two special teams tackles.
- Started both postseason contests and posted seven tackles and two passes defensed.
- Was inactive vs. Tennessee (12/20) and at N.Y. Jets (12/27) due to injury.
- Made his first interception of the season when he picked off Blake Bortles in the second quarter of the win vs. Jacksonville (9/27) and returned it for 27 yards.
- Started at safety, playing every defensive snap, and recorded a season-high nine tackles in the win at Indianapolis (10/18).
- Recorded three tackles on defense and one on special teams in the win vs. Miami (10/29). Also sacked Ryan Tannehill for a 13-yard loss, the second sack of his career and first since his rookie season.
2014 (16/16, 3/3)
- Named a co-captain for the fourth straight year.
- Earned his second career Pro Bowl invitation and was named to the Pro Football Writer's Association All-AFC Team.
- Started all 16 regular-season games at safety and registered 72 tackles, two interceptions, six passes defensed, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two special teams tackles.
- Started all three postseason contests and posted nine tackles, one interception, three passes defensed and one special teams tackle.
- Returned a first-quarter interception 60 yards to the Vikings 1-yard line to set up a Patriots touchdown in the win at Minnesota (9/14). It is the longest interception return of his career; the previous long was a 50-yard return as a rookie in 2010 at Detroit (11/25) on Thanksgiving Day.
- Intercepted Andrew Luck at the Patriots 22-yard line and returned it 10 yards in the win at Indianapolis (11/16). Also posted three tackles.
- Started at safety and tallied a season-high nine tackles at Green Bay (11/30).
- Registered three tackles, two passes defensed, one special teams stop and his first career postseason interception in the AFC Divisional win vs. Baltimore (1/10).
- Started at safety and played 52 of 53 defensive snaps in the Super Bowl XLIX win vs. Seattle (2/1), finishing the game with five tackles.
2013 (15/15, 2/2)
- Named a co-captain for the third straight year.
- Earned Associated Press All-Pro Second Team honors for the second time.
- Started 15 regular-season games and registered 75 tackles, one interception, nine passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two special teams tackles. Also returned seven kickoffs for 132 yards.
- Started both playoff contests and compiled nine tackles and one special teams tackle.
- Was inactive for the regular-season finale vs. Buffalo (12/29) due to injury.
- Made three tackles, defensed a pass and returned a first-quarter fumble, the first fumble recovery of his career, 44 yards that led to a Patriots field goal vs. N.Y. Jets (9/12).
- Registered a season-high 12 tackles at Atlanta (9/29), the fifth double-digit tackle effort of his career. Also forced a fumble that went out of bounds.
- Made double-digit tackles (11) for the second straight game at Cincinnati (10/6) and forced a fumble. Also stepped in on kickoffs for an injured Leon Washington, returning three kicks for 74 yards.
- Compiled five tackles vs. Miami (10/27) and initiated a fourth-quarter interception by tipping an errant Ryan Tannehill pass along the sideline to Marquice Cole, who hauled in the interception.
- Tallied five tackles and a first-quarter interception vs. Pittsburgh (11/3) that set up a Patriots touchdown on the ensuing play.
- Started at safety at Baltimore (12/22) and left in the third quarter with a head injury and did not return. Made three tackles and defensed two passes before leaving the game.
- Led the defense with nine tackles in the AFC Championship Game at Denver (1/19).
2012 (16/16, 2/2)
- Elected a defensive co-captain by his teammates for the second consecutive season. Played both cornerback and safety and was utilized as a kick returner.
- Started all 16 regular-season games and accumulated 89 tackles, five interceptions, 13 passes defensed and two forced fumbles - one on defense, one on special teams. Also returned 27 kickoffs for 654 yards and his first career touchdown - a 104-yard return vs. N.Y. Jets (10/21).
- Started both playoff games and compiled 15 tackles and one special teams tackle.
- Began the season as the starter for the first six games at left cornerback, and moved to a starter at safety for the next eight games with the injuries to Patrick Chung and the acquisition of Aqib Talib. Moved back to start at left cornerback for the final two regular-season contests due to injuries in the secondary.
- Three of his five interceptions came in the Patriots' end zone to stop a driving opponent: vs. Buffalo (11/11), vs. Houston (12/10) and vs. San Francisco (12/16).
- Started at cornerback, was second on the team with seven tackles and led the team with two passes defensed in the season-opening win at Tennessee (9/9).
- Led the defense with four passes defensed at Baltimore. (9/23). Also made seven tackles.
- Started and made six tackles and intercepted two passes in the win at Buffalo (9/30). McCourty returned the second pick 34 yards, deep into Bills territory and the offense converted the turnover into a touchdown. It was the second two-interception game of his career.
- Returned a first quarter kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown, marking the second-longest kickoff return in Patriots history, a key play in the Patriots overtime win vs. N.Y. Jets (10/21). Forced to start at safety due to injuries in the secondary and made three tackles.
- Started his third straight game at safety and registered a season-high nine tackles, intercepted a Bills pass to seal the win on the final drive and forced a fumble on the goal line vs. Buffalo (11/11).
- Compiled a season-high tying nine tackles on defense and forced a fumble on special teams that was returned by Julian Edelman for a touchdown in the win at N.Y. Jets (11/22).
- Had a key interception in the win over Houston (12/10) in the Patriots end zone in the first quarter that led to a Patriots touchdown.
- Picked off a pass in the end zone for the second straight week vs. San Francisco (12/16) to accompany his four tackles.
- Shifted to left cornerback due to injuries in the secondary for the win at Jacksonville (12/23) and made five tackles.
2011 (14/14, 3/3)
- Started all 14 of the games he played, missing two due to injury. Finished the season with 94 tackles, two interceptions, 13 passes defensed and five special teams tackles.
- Saw limited action at safety.
- Started all three playoff games and made 19 tackles.
- Recorded his first interception of the season at the Patriots 2-yard line on a deep Matt Moore pass. Added nine tackles and a career-high four passes defensed vs. Miami (12/24).
- Started Super Bowl XLVI vs. N.Y. Giants (2/5) and made seven tackles.
2010 (16/16, 1/1)
- Selected to his first Pro Bowl, becoming the fourth Patriots player to be selected as a rookie (Mike Haynes, 1976; John Stephens, 1988; Curtis Martin, 1995).
- Named to the Associated Press All-Pro Second Team.
- Started all 16 regular-season games and the playoff game vs. N.Y. Jets (1/16).
- Finished his rookie season with 83 tackles, one sack, 17 passes defensed (tied for seventh in the league), two forced fumbles and a team-high seven interceptions - the second-most by a Patriots rookie behind Mike Haynes (eight in 1976). The seven interceptions tied for second in the NFL.
- Played in and started his first NFL game in the season opener vs. Cincinnati (9/12), recording six tackles and a pass defensed.
- Registered his first NFL interception at San Diego (10/24) on a Philip Rivers pass in the second quarter.
- Made a game-changing interception vs. Minnesota (10/31) off a Brett Favre pass intended for Percy Harvin at the Patriots' 26-yard line and returned it 37 yards. He also broke up a potential 59-yard touchdown pass from Favre to Harvin as well as a goal-line pass to Greg Lewis in the fourth quarter in a 28-18 win.
- Intercepted a Peyton Manning pass vs. Indianapolis (11/21) in the third quarter at the Patriots' 39-yard line and batted down another Manning pass in the first quarter in a 31-28 win.
- Recorded two interceptions on Thanksgiving at Detroit (11/25), picking off a Shaun Hill pass in the third quarter and returning it 23 yards to the Detroit 26-yard line, resulting in a Patriots touchdown four plays later. Also intercepted Hill in the fourth quarter, returning it 50 yards to the Detroit 12-yard line, setting up another Patriots touchdown.
- Registered an interception for the third consecutive game vs. N.Y. Jets (12/6) after picking off Mark Sanchez at the New England 6-yard line in the third quarter.
- Forced a Johnny Knox fumble at Chicago (12/12) in the second quarter that Gary Guyton recovered and returned 35 yards for a touchdown in a 36-7 win.
- Recorded his first career sack vs. Green Bay (12/19), bringing down Matt Flynn for a 4-yard loss on first down in the fourth quarter, starting off a defensive series in which the Patriots forced a key three-and-out while trailing 27-24 in a 31-27 win. Finished with two passes defensed and 11 tackles, including a stop of John Kuhn for no gain on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter, helping to force a Packers field goal.
- Forced a Ryan Fitzpatrick fumble on a 14-yard scramble that was recovered by Eric Moore at the New England 37-yard line at Buffalo (12/26).
- Intercepted a Chad Henne pass vs. Miami (1/2) on the fifth play of the game at the Patriots 47-yard line.
COLLEGE
- Started 39-of-52 games at cornerback at Rutgers, recording 238 tackles (149 solos) with a 4-yard sack, 14 stops for minus-34 yards, two pressures, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
- Deflected 27 passes and intercepted six others for 105 yards in returns (17.5 avg.) and two TDs. Also blocked seven kicks (six punts, one field goal) for 102 yards in returns, as six blocks led to Rutgers scoring drives.
- His 49 tackles on special teams were the most by a Big East player during the span of the 2006-09 seasons.
- His two interception returns for touchdowns are tied for seventh on the conference season-record list.
- His 98-yard kickoff return vs. UConn in 2009 tied Hall Conors (vs. Maryland in 1998) for the third-longest kickoff return in school history.
- Academic All-Big East Conference in 2006 and 2007.
- Earned The NFL Draft Report All-American and All-Big East Conference first-team honors, becoming the first conference player to earn that honor at two different positions in the same year (cornerback and special teams) as a senior.
- First-team All-Big East Conference selection by the NFL Draft Report as a junior.
PERSONAL
- Attended Saint Joseph's (Montvale, N.J.) High School, where he and Jason were inducted into the school's hall of fame in the 2015 offseason.
- His twin brother, Jason, was a teammate and fellow cornerback at Saint Joseph's High School and Rutgers. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
- Was an all-league first-team defensive back in his final two seasons as he played alongside his twin brother.
- After his senior campaign, he was one of nine Rutgers recruits to play in the 2005 New York/New Jersey Governor's Bowl at Rutgers Stadium.
- Also lettered in basketball, starting at point guard for a team that compiled a 26-2 record during his senior season.
- Devin and wife, Michelle, have a daughter, Londyn and a son, Brayden.
- Majored in sociology at Rutgers.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2017
2016
- Associated Press All-Pro: Second Team
- PFWA All-AFC Team
- Pro Bowl
- Team Captain
2015
2014
- Team Captain
- NFL Pro Bowl
- Pro Football Writer’s Association All-AFC Team
2013
- Team Captain
- Associated Press All-Pro: Second Team
2012
- Team Captain
- AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Wk 7)
2011
2010
- Pro Bowl
- Associated Press All-Pro: Second Team
- Peter King’s SI.com All-Pro
- Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All Rookie Team
- The Sporting News All-Pro Team
EXTRA POINTS
- After being selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, CB Devin McCourty became part of a select group in league history. McCourty’s identical twin brother, Jason, joined the Patriots this past offseason for his 10th NFL season. The two became the 12th set of twins to play in the NFL. In Week 1 of 2018, they became the first set of twins to play together on the same team since 1926 when Gene and Tom Golsen suited up together for the Louisville Colonels. Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin of Seattle also accomplished the unique occurrence in Week 1 of 2018.
- Devin and Jason were cornerbacks in the Rutgers secondary from 2005-08. Devin redshirted for the 2005 season and was a year behind his brother in eligibility. Devin became the second twin to suit up for the Patriots, after CB Kato Serwanga was a member of the team from 1998-2000. His twin brother, Jason, played for San Francisco and Minnesota from 1999-2001. According to McCourty’s mother, the two can only be told apart by tiny scars on their faces left by chickenpox.
- In 2013, Devin and twin brother, Jason, partnered with Embrace Kids Foundation and launched “Tackle Sickle Cell,” a campaign that aims to educate the public, increase blood donations and raise money and awareness for the fight against sickle cell disease.
- During the 2016 offseason, Jason and Devin were enshrined in the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
