Brothers Jason and Devin McCourty will both take the field on Sunday night wearing the same uniform.
While the paths taken by both Patriots defensive backs to get to this point differ dramatically, they will both play with the same goal—to win Super Bowl LIII.
Both twins are so identical that coach Bill Belichick at times cannot tell them apart. But appearance and last name are not the only factors the twins have in common.
Both attended the same high school in northern New Jersey: Saint Joseph Regional. Both went on to play college football at Rutgers.
Devin redshirted his first year with the Scarlet Knights in 2005, and played in all 13 games in his freshman year in 2006. His brother Jason meanwhile, was a starting cornerback on the team for three seasons before being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2009. Devin was drafted by the Patriots in 2010.
From there, the brothers' paths diverged. While Devin McCourty competed for Super Bowls and conference championships with the Patriots, Jason was stuck on the Titans, cellar-dwellers of the AFC South who did not qualify for the playoffs once during his nine-year tenure with the team.
Jason signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2017, before being traded to the Patriots to reunite with his brother last offseason.
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The experience has been surreal, not only for the brothers, but for their mom Phyllis as well. She told ESPN:
"I'm so grateful because I get to see them live out their dream," Phyllis said. "I didn't tell my sons this, but I did tell their wives: If they win the Super Bowl together, I'm going to grab some of the confetti and lay out on the field and do an angel."
Devin is also thrilled at the opportunity to compete in the Super Bowl with his brother, as he explained to reporters:
"I don't know for sure, man. But I do look at it—if we can win this game, winning with my brother [Jason], I don't know what else I could do that could top that."
It's a rare feat for brothers to be able to appear together in the Super Bowl.
Brothers Jim and John Harbaugh are the latest example, as they squared off as coaches of the 49ers and Ravens, respectively, in Super Bowl XLVII.
Devin's comments have fueled speculation that he may retire following the game—taking advantage of the opportuntiy to "go out on top" in one last game, with the opportunity to compete for the Lombardi trophy, with his brother by his side.
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