Ex New England Patriots Star Devin McCourty: Tackling Injustice
For over a decade, Devin McCourty enjoyed a prolific career with the New England Patriots while winning three Super Bowls along the way.
Now that his playing days are behind him, McCourty has dedicated himself to a different cause: the fight against injustice.
“Being a part of this, that was everything that we kind of worked hard and built up, it was the top of the mountain,” McCourty told 7 News Boston.
In this new cause, McCourty's crowning achievement came in the case of William Allen. He had been in prison for 27 years while serving a life sentence for murder and armed robbery, although he was not behind the fatal stabbing of the victim.
McCourty with the Patriots last season.
Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Once McCourty learned of Allen's case, he sent a letter to former Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker pleading for his release and appeared at a rally in support. In January of 2022, McCourty learned that Allen's sentence had been commuted, leaving him with an overwhelming feeling of joy.
“For me, it was the best feeling I’ve ever had other than my kids being born,” McCourty said. “This man gets to come home and have freedom. To me, that end result trumps anything else that I’ve ever done on the football field.”
Even during his playing days, McCourty was focused on doing what he believes is right. In 2016, the two-time Pro Bowl selection joined the protest led by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick by raising his fist during the national anthem, even though he was well aware of the backlash he would face for it.
“You don’t step out and do something and think that ‘This is all going to go so smooth,’” McCourty said. It was every name you could be called as an African American in the country. I should be cut immediately, should never play in the NFL, it was all of that backlash.”
McCourty has become an inspiration off the field, but to him personally, his biggest source of inspiration comes from being a father.
“My kids go and they play with anybody,” McCourty said. “They don’t think about ‘What’s your race? Where are you from? None of that stuff matters. They just go.”
“Being around youth is always inspirational."
