Sports

Patriots safety Devin McCourty announces return for 2019 season

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)

As Patriots fans await the decision of tight end Rob Gronkowski, they got some positive news from safety Devin McCourty before his trip to Puerto Rico.

In an interview with Sports Spectrum, McCourty announced that he'd be returning to the team for the 2019 season, shutting down the rumors of a potential retirement after winning Super Bowl LIII alongside his brother, Jason.

"I'm gonna play," McCourty said on the Sports Spectrum podcast.

During the week leading up to Super Bowl LIII, McCourty was noncommittal when it came to talking about the 2019 season, implying that there wouldn't be anything left to do after winning a Super Bowl with his brother by his side.

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However, on the podcast, McCourty discussed the impact players have on the community, and said he realized there was more to the game than the trophies and accomplishments, emphasizing the platform players get to "do some special things."

"I think in that moment I kind of forgot that I don’t play this game just to win Super Bowls," McCourty said. "There’s so much more than 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.'”

McCourty will turn 32 in August, and will start his 10th season in the league in the same month as he enters the final year of his contract.

Meanwhile, his brother Jason will become an unrestricted free agent in March after playing a pivotal role in the Patriots' Super Bowl LIII win.