Three-time Super Bowl champ, longtime Pats captain Devin McCourty retiring after 13 seasons

Three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty announced he’s hanging up the pads Friday afternoon and retiring after 13 seasons in NFL, all spent with New England.

“It’s not about the destination, it’s about the JOURNEY!!” the two-time Pro Bowler wrote on Twitter.

It may never have been about the destination for McCourty, but the longtime Patriots captain helped lead New England to the NFL’s ultimate destination frequently.

McCourty appeared in five Super Bowls with the Patriots, helping them hang three championship banners as New England’s defensive backstop. McCourty made 24 postseason starts, the fourth-most in NFL history, the most for any defensive player. He is also one of only eight players in NFL history to start in five or more Super Bowls.

Devin appeared alongside twin brother and fellow Patriots Super Bowl champion Jason McCourty in a social media video, sharing that he had discussed his decision with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft.

“It’s always kinda tough to come to the end,” said McCourty. “This offseason has been so much back and forth for me mentally... Ultimately I think this is the best decision for me, my family, my career, it’s too look back at my 13 years and just enjoy it, man.”

Despite appearing in the Pro Bowl as a rookie corner, McCourty found his ultimate home in New England as a safety. The 2010 first-round pick racked up 35 career interceptions and over 900 tackles as the centerfielder for the Patriots’ defense. He joins Rod Woodson and Ronnie Lott as the only players to earn All-Pro honors at safety and cornerback.

“It is a rare group of players who win games at a historic rate, exude team culture, lead, win awards, and win championships,” said Belichick 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.”

“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 Patriots owner Robert Kraft. “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.”

“It’s been a great run. To come out here, if this was the last one, I think to be able to leave Gillette with a win, very similar to how my first-ever game was a win,” said McCourty after the Patriots final regular season home game last season. “I’ve had a lot of fun. These guys have been awesome to go out here and compete with. You never know how football goes. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it before the game.”

While McCourty shared that he’s looking forward to reminiscing on his career, he’s also not quite sure what comes next.

“I’m hoping I get job offers after sitting down with THE Jason McCourty and talking about my future,” Devin told his brother. “We’ll see how it goes, where it turns, but I’m just ready to ride that path and see.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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