Jason McCourty
Jason McCourty is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 13 seasons in the National Football League. He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft. McCourty also played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, the New England Patriots, and ended his playing career with the Miami Dolphins. He primarily played cornerback throughout his first 11 NFL seasons, but moved to free safety while playing for the Miami Dolphins in 2021. His twin brother, Devin, also played in the NFL. In 2022, McCourty was hired by NFL Network to serve as an analyst on Good Morning Football, and by Westwood One to help call select Thursday Night Football radio broadcasts. In late 2023, he was providing color commentary for college football telecasts on CBS.
College career
Jason McCourty started three years as a cornerback for Rutgers University. He ended his college career with 148 tackles, 2 interceptions, 20 pass breakups and finished second in the Big East in kickoff returns as a senior. His twin brother, Devin, started alongside him as a cornerback at Rutgers. McCourty graduated with a bachelor's degree in information technology.Professional career
Pre-draft
Coming out of Rutgers, McCourty was not a highly sought after prospect and did not receive an invitation to the NFL Combine. On March 23, 2009, he participated at Rutgers' pro day, along with Kenny Britt, Mike Teel, Tiquan Underwood, Courtney Greene, Kevin Brock, Kevin Malast, and nine other teammates. 41 team representatives and scouts from 27 NFL teams attended Rutgers pro day to scout one of the most talented teams in school history. McCourty ran the fastest time of any player there in the 40-yard dash.Tennessee Titans
2009
The Tennessee Titans selected McCourty in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He was the second player from Rutgers that the Tennessee Titans drafted after first-rounder Kenny Britt who was the 31st pick drafted in the 2009 draft. He was the 31st cornerback drafted and the third of five players from Rutgers selected in 2009.On June 23, 2009, the Tennessee Titans signed McCourty to a four—year, $1.84 million rookie contract that included a signing bonus of $89,818.
He entered training camp as a backup and competed for a roster spot as the third cornerback on the depth chart against Ryan Mouton, Cary Williams, and DeMarcus Faggins. Head coach Jeff Fisher named McCourty a backup and listed him as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart to start the regular season, behind Cortland Finnegan, Nick Harper, and Cary Williams. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz elected to have safety Vincent Fuller as the starting nickelback.
On September 10, 2009, McCourty made his professional regular season debut in the Titans' season-opener at the Pittsburgh Steelers and made one tackle for-a-loss as they lost 10–13. In Week 3, he recorded three solo tackles and had three kick returns for 72–yards during a 24–27 loss at the New York Jets. McCourty was only used as a kick returner for this game after Javon Ringer was benched and replaced by Ryan Mouton who had two fumbles. During their loss at the Jets, starting cornerback Cortland Finnegan injured his right hamstring and nickelback Vincent Fuller broke his arm. On September 29, 2009, the Titans signed Cary Williams to the practice squad in order to sign Mark Jones to takeover kick returns. Following the decision to cut Cary Williams from the active roster and injuries to both Cortland Finnegan and Vincent Fuller, the Titans were left with three cornerbacks on their active roster entering Week 4. Head coach Jeff Fisher named McCourty the No. 2 starting cornerback alongside Nick Harper with fellow rookie Ryan Mouton as the starting nickelback.
On October 4, 2009, McCourty earned his first career start and recorded five solo tackles during a 37–17 loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 5, he received his second start and set a season-high with eight combined tackles during their 31–9 loss against the Indianapolis Colts. During the third quarter, starting cornerback Nick Harper sustained an injury and immediately walked off the field into the locker room with trainers accompanying him. The following day, it was confirmed that Nick Harper had broken his arm and would have to undergo surgery that would sideline him for up to six weeks. On October 18, 2009, McCourty and Ryan Mouton were forced to start at the New England Patriots and Tom Brady had a career-high six touchdown passes during the Titans' 59–0 loss. The Titans signed free agent Roderick Hood to takeover as a starting cornerback in Week 8 alongside a returning Cortland Finnegan. He was inactive as the Titans defeated the Buffalo Bills 41–17 in Week 10. He finished his rookie season with only 30 combined tackles in 15 games and three starts.
2010
Entering training camp, the role as the No. 2 starting cornerback was left vacant after Nick Harper ended the season on injured reserve after breaking his forearm again and Roderick Hood suffered a torn ACL in June, requiring surgery after the Titans re-signed him on March 19, 2010. Among the candidates to become the No. 2 starting cornerback, defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil had McCourty, Ryan Mouton, Tye Hill, and rookie Alterraun Verner. Head coach Jeff Fisher named McCourty the starting cornerback, alongside Cortland Finnegan, to start the regular season.On September 12, 2010, McCourty started in the Tennessee Titans' season-opener against the Oakland Raiders and set a season-high with eight combined tackles and had one pass deflection in their 38–13 victory. On September 26, 2010, McCourty made four combined tackles, one pass deflection, and had his first career interception on a pass thrown by Eli Manning into the endzone to tight end Kevin Boss before exiting in the fourth quarter of the 29–10 victory at the New York Giants with an arm injury. On September 28, 2010, McCourty underwent surgery to repair his broken right forearm and was sidelined for the next four games.
Upon his return entering Week 8, McCourty was listed as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart behind Cortland Finnegan, Tim Shaw, and rookie Alterraun Verner. In Week 8, he recorded three solo tackles, made a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass attempt by Philip Rivers to wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu during a 33–25 loss at the San Diego Chargers. The following week, McCourty would surpass Tim Shaw in the depth chart and remained the starting nickelback for the last four games of the season. He finished the season with 47 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, and two interceptions in 12 games and six starts.
2011
On January 28, 2011, the Tennessee Titans fired head coach Jeff Fisher ending a 16—year tenure after they finished with a 6–10 record. Due to the 2011 NFL lockout, NFL training camps did not begin until late July. Throughout training camp, McCourty competed against Alterraun Verner to be the No. 2 starting cornerback. Head coach Mike Munchak named McCourty and Cortland Finnegan the starting cornerbacks to begin the season.On September 11, 2011, McCourty started in the Tennessee Titans' season-opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars and made five solo tackles, one pass deflection, and forced a fumble while making the first sack of his career on Luke McCown for an eight–yard loss during a 14–16 loss. In Week 2, he recorded four solo tackles, had one pass break-up, and intercepted a pass thrown by Joe Flacco to tight end Ed Dickson during a 26–13 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. The following week, he made six combined tackles, one pass deflection, and intercepted a pass for the second game in-a-row that was thrown by Kyle Orton to wide receiver Eric Decker as the Titans defeated the Denver Broncos 14–17. In Week 4, he set a season-high ten solo tackles during a 31–13 victory at the Cleveland Browns. On October 9, 2011, McCourty set a season-high with 14 combined tackles and had one pass deflection during a 38–17 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Week 13, McCourty recorded two solo tackles before he exited during the first quarter of a 23–17 victory at the Buffalo Bills after he was injured while both he and linebacker Akeem Ayers both tackled wide receiver Lee Evans. McCourty laid prone on the field after the play, but was able to walk to the sideline unassisted before trainers escorted him to the locker room. He was confirmed to have sustained a concussion and was inactive during a 17–22 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 14. He finished the season with a career-high 103 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, two interceptions, a sack, and a forced fumble in 15 games and 15 starts.
2012
On August 23, 2012, the Tennessee Titans signed McCourty to a six—year, $43.04 million contract extension that includes $17.00 million guaranteed and an initial signing bonus of $9.00 million.He entered training camp slated as the de facto No. 1 starting cornerback following the departure of Cortland Finnegan. Alterraun Verner and Tommie Campbell competed to start alongside him. Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray named McCourty and Alterraun Verner as the starting cornerbacks to begin the season, alongside Ryan Mouton as the starting nickelback.
On October 11, 2012, McCourty made five combined tackles, one pass deflection, a fumble recovery, and also intercepted a pass attempt thrown by Ben Roethlisberger to wide receiver Antonio Brown during a 23–26 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Week 7, McCourty recorded six combined tackles, made a pass deflection, and led the Titans to a 35–34 late fourth quarter comeback victory at the Buffalo Bills by intercepting a pass attempt by Ryan Fitzpatrick to wide receiver Donald Jones with 3:03 remaining with the Titans down 28–34. His interception led to the game-winning touchdown for the Titans after quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw a 15–yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington with 1:03 remaining.
In Week 10, he set a season-high with nine solo tackles and made one pass deflection as the Titans' routed the Miami Dolphins 37–3. On December 17, 2012, McCourty made five combined tackles, two pass deflections, and set a career-high with two interceptions on passes tny Mark Sanchez during a 14–10 victory against the New York Jets. His fourth interception of the season occurred in the second quarter on a pass attempt by Mark Sanchez to tight end Jeff Cumberland. In Week 17, McCourty recorded seven combined tackles and set a season-high with four pass deflections during a 38–20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He started all 16 games throughout the 2012 NFL season and had a total of 92 combined tackles, a career-high 15 pass deflections, and four interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts.