Jason McCourty Wants to Remain with Patriots

A few days after Devin McCourty announced his plans to play in 2019, Jason McCourty made it clear he will also continue his career.

"I was never contemplating retirement," Jason said. "I got grouped into Dev's thing."

But unlike Devin, Jason is not under contract for next season.
Devin is set to play his 10th season with the New England Patriots. The safety will earn $9.5 million in the final year of his contract. His brother Jason, who won a Super Bowl title in his first season in New England, wants to stay with the Patriots. The 31-year-old cornerback hopes to avoid joining his third team in as many seasons while continuing to play with his twin brother Devin.

“First and foremost, if I could be back in New England and all of that works out, that would be awesome,” (Jason) McCourty said Sunday to Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston. “That way it wouldn’t be the third consecutive year I had to move my family. That would be an advantage. But at the same time you realize how much of this is a business and how much of this isn’t dictated by (the feeling), ‘Hey, I just want to play here with my brother and the guys I built a relationship with.’ There’s so much more that goes into it."

McCourty will become an unrestricted free agent on March 13. He spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans, then played for the Cleveland Browns in their winless 2017 campaign, before being traded to New England last offseason.

Jason McCourty would like to continue playing for the Patriots. (NBC Sports Photo)

McCourty made one of the most crucial plays in the Patriots' Super Bowl LIII victory when he chased down a pass from Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, knocking the ball away from the intended target Brandin Cooks, who was open in the back of the end zone.

Per @NextGenStats Jason McCourty was 19.2 (!!!) yards away from Brandin Cooks when Jared Goff released this pass pic.twitter.com/krJDeZoNtV

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) February 5, 2019

Devin McCourty to Return for 2019 Season

Devin McCourty announced he will return for the 2019 NFL season. The 31-year-old New England Patriots safety had said before Super Bowl LIII he was considering retirement, but has decided against hanging up his cleats for now.

"Yeah, I'm gonna play," McCourty told the Sports Spectrum podcast.

Patriots Devin McCourty @McCourtyTwins told us on an upcoming podcast he's planning on playing in 2019.

WATCH 👇https://t.co/EuZU02bVur

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) February 22, 2019

A three-time Super Bowl champion, McCourty has been the backbone of the Patriots’ secondary since being drafted in 2010.  A team captain since 2011, the safety earned Pro Bowl nods in 2010 and 2016, and was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2010, 2013 and 2016. McCourty has amassed 714 tackles, 80 passes defended, 21 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, three sacks and a defensive TD in his nine seasons with New England.

McCourty has appeared in 139 career regular-season games, starting all of them. He has played in 22 playoff games, as well.

Despite his age, McCourty has remained an effective player and is a leader on defense. McCourty is due $9.5 million this upcoming season—the final year of his contract.

McCourty’s brother Jason is an unrestricted free agent. He won a Super Bowl in his first season with the team. There is no word if Jason is pondering retirement. The Patriots will likely try to retain the cornerback's services.