Patriots safety Devin McCourty admits 'I plan on playing' in 2021 NFL season
Nick Goss
December 24, 2020, 12:48 PM ·2 min read
Devin McCourty: 'I plan on playing next year' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
It doesn't sound like New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty intends to retire after the 2020 NFL season.
The 33-year-old veteran was asked about his future with the Patriots and pro football during a Thursday appearance on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show", and he explained his mindset at this point in the process.
"I think it's always tough when you get down to the end of the year to start talking about the future, but for right now I'm still enjoying football. I plan on playing next year," McCourty said.
"Just trying to finish out these two games the best way I can. Then when the offseason hits, evaluate and doing all of that stuff. But still feel pretty healthy and love going out there and competing."
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McCourty has one more year left on his contract with the Patriots.
The veteran defensive is still a very good safety, so from a performance standpoint, he could definitely play at least another season. He's tallied 36 tackles, two interceptions, two touchdowns (one on defense, one on special teams) and six passes defensed in 14 games this season.
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The Patriots defense has been up-and-down throughout 2020, and McCourty has been one of the unit's top players. New England's secondary also features several young players who benefit from McCourty's leadership and experience.
McCourty was drafted by the Patriots in 2010, and this season is the first of his career in which the team won't be participating in the AFC playoffs. The Patriots have won three Super Bowl titles, five conference championships and 10 AFC East division crowns in his 11 seasons.
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