Devin McCourty squashes retirement talk: 'I'm gonna play'
New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty will return in 2019 after floating the idea of retirement days before Super Bowl LIII.
"Yeah, I'm gonna play," the standout defender said Thursday on the Sports Spectrum podcast.
McCourty captured his third career Super Bowl ring in New England's 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 3.
He said six days before the game he would contemplate walking away from the NFL if he could win a title alongside twin brother Jason.
"In that moment I kind of forgot like, I don't play this game just to win Super Bowls, it's so much more that comes from me playing the game that I love," he said. "I think once you get a chance to step away for a couple weeks now, you're like, 'yeah I still do want to be around these other young guys that come in.'"
McCourty, 31, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Patriots. The two-time Pro Bowler racked up 82 tackles and an interception in 2018 and has one year left on his contract.
His brother, who was traded to New England from the Cleveland Browns last offseason, is scheduled to become a free agent in March.