Devin McCourty is a retired American professional football player renowned for his versatility and leadership on the defensive side of the ball during a distinguished 13-year career in the National Football League.
Born on August 13, 1987, in Montvale, New Jersey, McCourty grew up in Nyack, New York, in a close-knit family of Jamaican descent.
He attended Saint Joseph Regional High School, where he excelled as a cornerback and free safety, earning all-league honors in his final two seasons with 50 tackles and three interceptions as a senior.
McCourty’s journey to the NFL began at Rutgers University, where he played college football for the Scarlet Knights from 2006 to 2009.
After redshirting his freshman year, he quickly rose to prominence, starting alongside his brother at cornerback and contributing significantly on special teams with blocked kicks and interceptions.
His senior season was particularly standout, as he earned honorable mention All-America status, first-team All-Big East honors, and became the first Rutgers player to win the Homer Hazel Award as team MVP while also being named MVP on both defense and special teams.
Drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round (27th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft, McCourty transitioned seamlessly to the professional level, playing exclusively for the Patriots until his retirement in 2022.
Siblings
Devin’s identical twin brother, Jason McCourty, born 27 minutes after Devin, is perhaps the most prominent figure in his sibling circle.
Jason, also a cornerback at Rutgers, was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, embarking on a 13-year NFL career that included stints with the Titans, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, where he joined Devin in 2018, and Miami Dolphins.
The brothers made history as one of only 13 sets of twins in NFL annals and the first to win a Super Bowl together in Super Bowl LIII.
Beyond football, Jason and Devin are inseparable partners in philanthropy through their McCourty Twins Foundation, focusing on education access, healthcare equity, and social justice.
Jason now hosts NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, while the duo co-hosted the podcast Double Coverage during their Patriots tenure.
Devin also has an older half-brother, Larry White, from his mother’s previous relationship, who has spoken glowingly of Phyllis’s strength in raising the family single-handedly and crediting her for their success.
Also Read: Christian Benteke Siblings: Get to Know Sara and Jonathan Benteke
Career
McCourty’s NFL career with the New England Patriots was a masterclass in adaptability, durability, and defensive excellence, spanning from 2010 to 2022 and encompassing 205 regular-season games, all as a starter, plus a record 24 playoff starts for a defensive player.
Selected 27th overall in the 2010 Draft out of Rutgers, McCourty initially made his mark as a cornerback, earning immediate trust from head coach Bill Belichick amid injuries to veterans like Leigh Bodden.
In his rookie season, he exploded for 86 tackles, seven interceptions (tied for the league lead), 17 pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, while also shining on special teams with a 98-yard kickoff return.
This breakout year transitioned him to free safety in 2012, a move that unlocked his full potential in the Patriots’ secondary alongside players like Darrelle Revis and Patrick Chung.
Over the next decade, McCourty became the defensive anchor of New England’s dynasty under Tom Brady and Belichick, amassing 740 solo tackles, 231 assists, 35 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, three sacks, and 110 pass deflections.
Key highlights include a career-high 80 tackles and 10 pass deflections in 2019, and pivotal playoff performances like his seven tackles and two pass deflections in Super Bowl LII.
McCourty served as a team captain for 12 consecutive seasons, embodying the Patriots’ “Do Your Job” ethos, and retired in March 2023 alongside brother Jason.
Accolades
In the NFL, McCourty was selected to the Pro Bowl twice, in 2010 and 2016, with his rookie campaign earning him First-Team All-Pro honors and a runner-up finish for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
He added Second-Team All-Pro nods in 2013 and 2016, recognizing his consistent excellence in pass defense and tackling.
McCourty’s crowning achievements came in the postseason, where he contributed to three Super Bowl victories, XLIX (2015), LI (2017), and LIII (2019), establishing him as a clutch performer in high-stakes games.
His 35 career interceptions rank among the best for safeties of his generation, and he holds the NFL record for most playoff starts by a defensive player with 24.
Beyond individual stats, McCourty was named to the New England Patriots’ 2010s All-Decade Team, a fitting tribute to his role in the franchise’s golden age.
At Rutgers, his accolades included the Homer Hazel Award as team MVP, the first player to win it while also earning unit MVPs on defense and special teams, first-team All-Big East honors, honorable mention All-America, and semifinalist status for the Draddy Trophy (the “Academic Heisman”).
In 2024, both McCourty brothers were inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame for their collegiate and professional legacies.
Off the field, his humanitarian efforts shone through four nominations for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and a nomination for ESPN’s Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in 2020.
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