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Devin McCourty confirms he will return for 2019 season

By Patrick Morgan

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 30: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots reacts after recovering a fumble during the second quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 30: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots reacts after recovering a fumble during the second quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Devin McCourty, longtime safety and captain for the New England Patriots, confirmed on Thursday that he plans to return for the 2019 season after all.

As the Patriots nervously await Rob Gronkowski’s looming retirement decision, at least one bit of good news came in on Thursday regarding another prominent player’s future. Devin McCourty caused quite a stir at Super Bowl Opening Night when he unexpectedly and rather candidly contemplated retiring after the game while speaking to the NFL Network’s Deion Sanders.

On Thursday, McCourty sat down for an interview on the “Sports Spectrum Podcast.” At one point he was asked about his playing status in 2019, and whether he’d given any more thought one way or another to hanging up his cleats. Thankfully for Pats fans everywhere, McCourty didn’t hesitate when proudly announcing his intentions to return for another year.

"“I’m gonna play,” McCourty stated matter-of-factly to the hosts. “That was Super Bowl Media Night when Deion (Sanders) said that to me, and it was like, ‘Yeah, man, if we win the Super Bowl I don’t know what else could top that. And I think in that moment I kind of forgot that I don’t play this game just to win Super Bowls. There’s so much more that comes from me playing the game that I love. I think once you get a chance to step away for a couple weeks you’re like, ‘Yeah, man, I still do want to be around these young guys that come in.’”"

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 05: Jason McCourty #30 and Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots react during the Super Bowl Victory Parade on February 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 05: Jason McCourty #30 and Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots react during the Super Bowl Victory Parade on February 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /

Devin McCourty had the rare experience of playing with his twin brother, Jason, on the same team as him during the 2018 season. After toiling for years on struggling teams like the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns, Jason finally got a chance to feel what it’s like to be on a winning squad – and to capture a championship.

Notably, Jason McCourty laughed off his brother’s retirement talk even back at Opening Night, calling his twin “so dramatic” and basically telling reporters to check back in with him in a more calm, composed setting.

In light of Thursday’s breaking news, it appears that brother knows best after all. Devin McCourty probably got a little lost in the moment, and now that a couple weeks have gone by since Super Bowl 53, he has the clarity and peace of mind to announce a decision that’s best for him and for his family.

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“Being down here (with Sports Spectrum) this week, and next week going to do a football camp in Puerto Rico with the family, it really starts to make you realize the platform that you get to use to do some special things,” McCourty added.

It still remains to be seen whether Jason McCourty will be back with the Patriots in 2019, as he enters unrestricted free agency later next month.

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