Jason McCourty

Jason McCourty was acquired by the New England Patriots from Cleveland along with a 2018 seventh-round selection (219th overall) in a trade in exchange for a 2018 sixth-round draft selection on March 15, 2018 ... Originally drafted by Tennessee in the sixth round (203rd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft ... Released by Tennessee (4/13/17) ... Signed by Cleveland as a free agent (5/17/17).

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Jason McCourty was re-signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2019 ... Originally drafted by Tennessee in the sixth round (203rd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft ... Released by Tennessee (4/13/17) ... Signed by Cleveland as a free agent (5/17/17) ... Acquired by New England from Cleveland along with a 2018 seventh-round selection (219th overall) in a trade in exchange for a 2018 sixth-round draft selection (3/15/18).

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2020 (16/9)

• Elected defensive co-captain by his Patriots teammates for the first time.
• Started at cornerback in the season opener vs. Miami (9/13). and made one tackle.
• Started corner and made three tackles at Seattle (9/20).
• Started at corner and combined for four tackles in a Week 3 win vs. Las Vegas (9/27).
• Made 5 total tackles in a Week 4 loss at Kansas City (10/5). Helped keep Patrick Mahomes and the chiefs out of the end zone for the first half for the third time in three years.
• Started at corner in a Week 6 loss vs. Denver (10/18) Added one unassisted tackle.
• Made four total tackles as a starting corner in a Week 7 loss vs. San Francisco (10/25).
• Started at corner, made four solo tackles in a Week 8 loss at Buffalo (11/1). Broke up a pass intended for Bills WR John Brown on third down that forced buffalo to punt in the second quarter.
• Started at corner and combined to make three total tackles as part of a week 9 win at the Jets (11/9).
• Started at corner in a Week 10 win vs. Baltimore (11/15). Broke up one pass and added four unassisted tackles.
• Played a reserve role at corner and made two tackles in a Week 10 loss at Houston (11/22)
• Appeared as a reserve corner and made three solo tackles in a Week 12 win vs. Arizona (11/29). Was able to tackle Keesean Johnson short of the goal line in the closing seconds of the first half. On the following play the Patriots stopped Kenyan Drake short of the goal line and the half expired.
• Substituted in at corner and made tow two tackles in a Week 13 win at the chargers (12/6). Defended a pass in the second quarter.
• Substituted and played a limited roll at corner in a week 14 loss at the Rams (12/10)
• Substituted in at defensive back and played the majority of snaps after Stephon Gilmore left early due to injury in a Week 15 loss at Miami
• Appeared as a reserve defensive back and posted three tackles in a Week 16 loss vs. Buffalo (12/28).
• Was a reserve played in the defensive backfield in a week 17 win of the Jets (1/3). Posted two tackles.

2019 (12/10, 0/0)

• Appeared in 12 regular-season games with 10 starts at cornerback and totaled 39 tackles, one interception, six passes defensed and one special teams tackle as part of a defense that finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) and scoring (14.1 points allowed per game).
• Was inactive due to injury for four regular-season games and the AFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Tennessee (1/4).
• Started at cornerback and finished with a team-high seven tackles and three passes defensed in the season-opening victory vs. Pittsburgh (9/8).
• Started at cornerback and finished with four tackles as part of a defensive unit that surrendered just 184 yards total in the victory at Miami (9/15).
• Contributed defensively with seven tackles and a pass defensed, while also adding his first interception of the season that was returned 16 yards in the victory at Washington (10/6).

2018 (16/12, 3/3)

• Started at cornerback in 12-of-16 regular-season games, finishing with 68 total tackles, one interception, ten passes defensed and a forced fumble. Also added two special teams tackles.
• Started all three postseason contests in his postseason debut, totaling 10 tackles and four passes defensed. Broke up a would-be touchdown reception by WR Brandin Cooks in the Super Bowl LIII victory vs. the Los Angeles Rams (2/3) as part of a defensive unit that held the Los Angeles offense to just three total points after they entered the game averaging 32.9 points per game.
• Made his Patriots debut and saw limited snaps on defense, while adding a pass defensed on QB Deshaun Watson's Hail Mary attempt to close out the season-opening victory vs. Houston (9/9). Also contributed on special teams with one special teams tackle. Along with twin brother, Devin, became just the third set of twins in NFL history to play together on the same field when they lined up next to each other during the Patriots opening kickoff.
• Saw his first extensive time of the season at cornerback where he finished with five tackles, while also adding a special teams tackle at Jacksonville (9/16).
• Made the start at cornerback in place of an injured Eric Rowe and finished with six tackles at Detroit (9/23).
• Started at cornerback and finished with three tackles as part of a secondary that limited QB Ryan Tannehill to just 100 yards passing in the victory vs. Miami (9/30).
• Started at cornerback and helped hold the Vikings passing attack to just 201 yards, finishing with six total tackles in the victory vs. Minnesota (12/2).
• Led the team with a team-high nine tackles in a starting role at Pittsburgh (12/16).
• Contributed in a reserve role on defense but was a major contributor, making three tackles, two passes defensed and two key turnovers in the win vs. Buffalo (12/23). Jason forced a fumble on a completed pass to TE Jason Croom deep in New England territory that was recovered by DL Malcom Brown in the third quarter and added a fourth-quarter interception of QB Josh Allen.
• Started in his postseason debut and finished with five tackles and a pass defensed in the AFC Divisional Playoff victory vs. L.A. Chargers (1/13).
• Started at corner and made five total tackles as well as two pass breakups in the Super Bowl LIII victory vs. the Los Angeles Rams (2/3). Had a third quarter pass breakup of a would-be touchdown for WR Brandin Cooks that kept the Rams out of the end zone, forcing them to settle for a field goal that tied the game.

2017 (14/14 - Cleveland)

• Started all 14 games he appeared in and totaled 65 tackles and three interceptions - one of which was returned for a touchdown. Also defensed 14 passes and forced two fumbles.
• Was inactive due to injury vs. Tennessee (10/22) and at Minnesota (10/29).
• Posted four tackles and intercepted his first pass of the season at Baltimore (9/17).
• Posted five tackles and had an interception vs. N.Y. Jets (10/8).
• Had an interception for the second straight game and third of the season and returned the pick 56 yards for a touchdown at Houston (10/15) in the fourth quarter. Also made one tackle.
• Registered a season high 10 tackles vs. Green Bay (12/10).

2016 (14/14 - Tennessee)

• Started all 14 games he appeared in and registered 67 tackles, two interceptions, 12 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Also posted two special teams tackles.
• Recorded interceptions in back-to-back weeks at Houston (10/2) and at Miami (10/9).
• Led the team with 11 tackles and defensed two passes vs. Jacksonville (10/27).

2015 (4/4 - Tennessee)

• Voted team captain for the third time.
• Was inactive for the first three games of the season and for Week 9 due to injury. Started the next four games and posted 15 tackles and one pass defensed before being placed on injured reserve on Nov. 15.

2014 (16/16 - Tennessee)

• Started all 16 games at cornerback and led the team with three interceptions and 13 passes defensed. Recorded 85 tackles, two forced fumbles and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
• Tied a career-high with two interceptions and collected three tackles at Kansas City (9/7).
• Tied for the team lead with 11 tackles vs. Jacksonville (10/12). Added a forced fumble and one pass defensed.
• Notched seven tackles at Houston (11/30) and forced a fumble when he stripped Texans WR Andre Johnson of the ball and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown.
• Tied for the team lead with 10 tackles vs. N.Y. Giants (12/7).

2013 (16/16 - Tennessee)

• Voted team captain for the second time in his career.
• Started all 16 games at cornerback and tallied 85 tackles, three interceptions, 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble and a returned fumble recovery for a touchdown.
• Posted a season-high nine tackles at Seattle (10/13) and returned a fumble 77 yards for a touchdown on a Seahawks field goal attempt at the end of the first half. Also forced one fumble.

2012 (16/16 - Tennessee)

• Voted team captain for the first time in his career.
• Started all 16 games at cornerback and tallied 92 tackles, a career high four interceptions, 15 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Also returned one kickoff for 14 yards.
• Tied a season high with nine tackles at Minnesota (10/7).
• Totaled five tackles, one interception, two passes defensed and set up Tennessee's first score by recovering a blocked punt at the Steelers 1-yard line.
• Led the team with nine tackles, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and defensed one pass at Miami (11/11).
• Tied a career high with two interceptions while posting five tackles and two passes defensed vs. N.Y. Jets (12/17).
• Tallied nine tackles at Green Bay (12/23).

2011 (15/15 - Tennessee)

• Started all 15 games he played in and totaled a career high 103 tackles, his first career sack, two interceptions, 13 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his first career touchdown.
• Was inactive vs. New Orleans (12/11) due to injury.
• Posted five tackles, his first career sack, one forced fumble and one pass defensed in the season-opener at Jacksonville (9/11).
• Recorded a single game career-high 14 tackles at Pittsburgh (10/9). Also defensed one pass.
• Tallied seven tackles, one pass defensed and recovered a blocked punt and in the end zone for his first career touchdown vs. Indianapolis (10/30).
• Made eight tackles and a recorded a team-high three passes defensed at Houston (1/1).

2010 (12/6 - Tennessee)

• Played in 12 games with six starts and recorded 44 tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed. Also made three special teams tackles.
• Was inactive due to injury vs. Denver (10/3), at Dallas (10/10), at Jacksonville (10/18) and vs. Philadelphia (10/24).
• Posted a season-high eight tackles in the season opener vs. Oakland (9/12). Also defensed one pass.
• Recorded four tackles and his first career interception at N.Y. Giants (9/26).
• Tallied two tackles and an interception in his second straight game at San Diego (10/31).

2009 (15/3 - Tennessee)

• Played in 15 games with three starts as a rookie and tallied 22 tackles on defense and forced a fumble while registering eight tackles on special teams. Also returned three kickoffs for 72 yards (24.0 avg.)
• Was inactive vs. Buffalo (11/15).
• Made his first career start and made four tackles at Jacksonville (10/4).
• Started at cornerback and recorded a season-high eight tackles vs. Indianapolis (10/11).

EXTRA POINTS

• Jason joined the Patriots in the 2018 offseason, and in Week 1 along with twin brother, Devin, became just the third set of twins in NFL history to play together on the same field. Gene and Tom Golsen played together for the 1926 Louisville Colonels. Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin of Seattle also accomplished the unique occurrence in Week 1 of 2018.
• In 2013, Jason and Devin 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.
• In 2014, Jason was voted Tennessee's Walter Payton Man of the Year, an award that recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field.
• During the 2016 offseason, Jason and Devin were enshrined in the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

COLLEGE

• Appeared in 43 games with 33 starts at Rutgers, totaling 150 tackles, two interceptions, 20 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and a 25.8-yard average on 17 kickoff returns.
• Named team captain as a senior in 2008 and started all 13 games at cornerback. Tallied 52 tackles, six passes defensed, one fumble recovery and a team-high two interceptions. Averaged 26.2 yards per kickoff return, good for second-best in Big East play.
• As a junior in 2007, totaled 44 tackles, including three for loss and recorded a team-best 12 passes defensed in his second full-season as a starter.
• Earned a starting spot at cornerback as a sophomore in 2006 and appeared in 12 games. Finished with 45 tackles, including four for loss, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
• Played in nine games as a true freshman in 2005, primarily on special teams.

PERSONAL

• He and his wife, Melissa, have two daughters, Liana and Kai, and a son, Kaiden.
• Attended St. Joseph's (Montvale, N.J. ) High School, where he earned all-state honors from the Associated Press and Newark Star-Ledger as a senior and was also named all-league. Also named to MSG High School Heisman Team. Helped the New York team to victory in the 2005 Governor's Bowl.
• Majored in information technology at Rutgers.