One of the greatest Patriots ever is calling it a career.
Defensive back Devin McCourty announced via Instagram that he’s retiring after 13 NFL seasons — all with the Patriots.
“It’s not about the destination, it’s about the JOURNEY!!” the Patriots legend tweeted out in the link to his video announcement.
What a journey it was.
McCourty leaves the game as one of the franchise’s most accomplished players, earning three All-Pro nods, finishing third on the Patriots’ all-time interception list with 35, making a Pro Bowl as both a cornerback and safety and contributing to three Super Bowl titles.
In the last two seasons, McCourty still rarely came off the field and continued to play at a high level, even nabbing an interception in his final game.
He had recently said he would make his decision around the start of the new league year and held true to his word.
The longtime safety has recently made appearances on NFL Network with his twin brother Jason, who was alongside as Devin made his announcement, and looks to be a sought-after media personality now that his career has come to a close.
The Patriots will now have to replace McCourty’s presence in the deep middle of the field in addition to other needs this season. But there won’t be any replacing his leadership as a core member of the Patriots culture.
