Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty (born August 13, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 13 seasons with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL).

McCourty attended Rutgers University, and played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team beginning in 2005.

After redshirting his first season, McCourty appeared in all 13 games as a freshman in 2006 and recorded 38 tackles and two interceptions.

In 2007, McCourty and his twin brother Jason started at cornerback, with Devin compiling 63 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and three blocked kicks on special teams.

He was named an All-Big East Conference academic selection in his first two seasons.

McCourty started 13 games at cornerback in his 2008 junior season, picking up 57 tackles, one interception, and a blocked punt.

In his final season at Rutgers in 2009, McCourty started 13 games at cornerback, while still also working on special teams units.

He had a career-high 80 tackles and also recorded one interception and 10 pass deflections.

He also averaged 25.4 yards on kickoff returns and had a 98-yard kickoff return, third-longest in school history.

Following the season, he was named to the All-Big East first-team.

McCourty graduated from Rutgers with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

On August 25, 2009, NFL analyst Gil Brandt ranked McCourty the fourth best cornerback prospect heading into the 2010 NFL Draft.

He attended the NFL Scouting Combine and performed all of the combine drills.

He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Missing only five games during his Patriots career, McCourty received two Pro Bowl selections and was also a member of three Super Bowl-winning teams.

McCourty also has the most postseason starts for a defensive player.

Since leaving the NFL in 2022, he has served as a commentator for NBC's Football Night in America.

McCourty attended Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey, with his twin brother, Jason McCourty.

He played cornerback and free safety and was an all-league selection in his final two seasons.

As a senior, he had 50 tackles and three interceptions.

Considered a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, McCourty only received one scholarship offer, from Rutgers.

On March 10, 2010, McCourty attended Rutgers' annual pro day, but chose to stand on his combine numbers and only performed positional drills.

At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, McCourty was projected to be a first or second round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts.

He was ranked third best cornerback prospect in the draft by Sports Illustrated and ESPN, was ranked the fourth best cornerback by DraftScout.com, and was ranked the fifth best cornerback in the draft by Bleacher Report.

The New England Patriots selected McCourty in the first round (27th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.

He was the third cornerback drafted in 2010.

On July 28, 2010, the New England Patriots signed McCourty to a five-year, $10 million contract that includes $7.28 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.50 million.

Upon him arriving in training camp, McCourty began competing for a job as a starting cornerback against Darius Butler.

Head coach Bill Belichick named both McCourty and Darius Butler the starting cornerbacks to begin the regular season.

He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Patriots' season-opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and recorded five solo tackles and a pass deflection in their 38–24 victory.

McCourty made his first career tackle on Adam Jones, ending Jones 19-yard kick return in the first quarter.

On October 24, 2010, McCourty made three combined tackles, a pass deflection, and made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Philip Rivers during a 23–20 win at the San Diego Chargers in Week 7.

McCourty intercepted the pass that was originally intended for Patrick Crayton in the second quarter and was immediately tackled.

On November 14, 2010, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (nine solo) and broke up a pass in the Patriots' 39–26 victory at the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10.

In Week 11, he collected six combined tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception in the Patriots' 31–28 win against the Indianapolis Colts.

The following week, McCourty made a season-high three pass deflections, seven combined tackles, and intercepted two passes by Matthew Stafford in a 45–24 victory at the Detroit Lions in Week 12.

The feat marked his first multi-interception game of his career.

On December 6, 2010, McCourty recorded three solo tackles, broke up a pass, and an interception as the Patriots routed the New York Jets 45–3 in Week 13.

The interception was his sixth pick of the season and continued his three-game streak with an interception.

In Week 15, he collected ten solo tackles (seven solo), a pass deflection, and made his first career sack on quarterback Matt Flynn during a 31–27 win against the Green Bay Packers.