FOXBORO — James Develin, the Patriots Pro Bowl fullback who spent seven seasons with the Patriots, announced his retirement from football Monday afternoon.
Develin’s 2019 season was cut short by a neck injury, which factored into his decision to retire.
Develin won three Super Bowls with the Patriots.
The Patriots placed Develin on the reserved/retired list and issued a glowing statement from head coach Bill Belichick:
“To some people, James Develin may be ‘unsung’ in terms of publicity and fame, but to his coaches and teammates he is one of the most appreciated and respected players we have ever had. In football, there are a lot of tough, unselfish and dependable people who bring positive leadership on a daily basis, but the name James Develin represents those qualities at an elite level. A tribute to the impact James had on our success, of the five seasons in which he appeared in every game, we won three championships. Any team would be fortunate to have a James Devlin-‘type’ on its roster but the reality is he is a rarity and we are very fortunate he was a Patriot.”