Stay Tranquilo – Beyond the Field: The Mental Fortitude Behind Football

Guest: Devin McCourty (Super Bowl Champion)
Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Stay Tranquilo Network

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the journey of Devin McCourty, two-time Super Bowl champion and long-time New England Patriots captain. Exploring the mental toughness required to excel in football, Devin discusses overcoming adversity, the importance of mindset, and the transitions athletes face after their playing careers end. The conversation is thoughtful and candid, touching on family, loss, leadership, identity, and the work Devin does with the Pro Athlete Community (PAC), a non-profit supporting athletes’ post-sports transitions. Throughout, both the host and guest underscore the value of vulnerability, learning from setbacks, and finding joy and purpose beyond the field.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Humble Beginnings & Early Adversity

[03:38–11:30]

• Growing up as a twin:
  Devin and his brother, Jason, were not considered obvious future pros: "As soon as we got into high school, we were like 5’7”, 115 pounds...Nobody thought those guys were playing in the NFL."
• Losing his father young:
  Their father’s legacy in sports became a silent motivator. "I knew he loved basketball. I knew he loved sports. So when I got into sports, I always felt like that was our connection."
• Recruitment & early setbacks:
  While Jason got college offers early, Devin was initially overlooked, fueling a lifelong chip on his shoulder: "It was the first time in our life where people were like, no, y’all are different. And you know what, he’s good, and you’re not."
• Mother’s support:
  “Sometimes that’s how it works out. Like, you don’t always get to pick how or why, but if you get an opportunity, that’s your opportunity to show why.” — (Devin quoting his mom) [09:00]

2. Earning Respect and Dealing with Doubt

[00:28–02:28], [11:30–14:24]

• Draft day reality check:
  Reaching the NFL, Devin believed he’d finally made it: “My goal was to be a first or second round pick…when I did it…I finally arrived. I’m gonna get respect.”
• Immediate media skepticism:
  “[At] my introductory press conference…the first question is, ‘Are you aware that you’re an unpopular pick?’” [00:30]
• Persistent doubt as fuel:
  The criticism reminded him “You didn’t make anything. No one thinks you’re great…And that same doubt is there.”
• Achievement:
  Despite the naysayers, Devin was “second team All Pro as a rookie,” an honor highlighted by his coach comparing him to Emmitt Smith.
  • “When I got voted to the Pro bowl as a rookie...he was like, ‘You know who that is? Emmett Smith.’ And that moment for me was like, alright...Whatever you’re doing that got you here, stay on this.” [01:12–13:20]
• Leadership journey:
  Devin became a captain 12 out of 13 years in New England—a role he never imagined.

3. Family, Fatherhood, and Role Models

[14:24–19:23]

• Mother’s role:
  “My mom was my rock…She raised three boys solo…had to make sure they’re in line before they’re bigger than me.” [15:52]
• Value of his twin:
  “Having a twin saved me and we saved each other…whatever I do, he grabs me. ‘Nah, we’re not doing that.’...We challenge each other in everything—sports, fatherhood, being a husband. We’ll always challenge each other to make sure we stay sharp.” [17:17]
• Learning from negative examples:
  Exposure to family members making poor choices taught them, “I don’t have to see what I want to do, I can see this and know I don’t want to do that.”

4. The McCourty Brothers’ NFL Reunion

[20:11–27:52]

• Teammates at last:
  Devin and Jason nearly played together multiple times, finally reuniting with the Patriots in 2018 after adversity (trade rumors, releases).
• The Cleveland years:
  “Everybody knows, don’t [go to Cleveland]...they go 0–16.” [23:07]
• Super Bowl win together:
  “2018 was just a very special year...My mom’s on the field doing angels in confetti.” [25:50]
• Family celebration:
  “We took 30 people to the Super Bowl…This is a moment in time.”

5. Leadership, Coaches, and Team Dynamics

[27:52–34:57]

• On working with coach Brian Flores:
  “I loved being around Flo because I saw the version of what I wanted to become in life someday…A minority guy in coaching…family oriented, doing it.” [28:18]
• Flo’s style:
  “If I talk to you, I want everybody to hear what I’m saying…so nothing gets changed…”
• Transition for coaches:
  “That’s the biggest transition for all of these coaches, taking care of everything outside of football…You need to make sure you get leaders of people and organizations.” [33:14]

6. Life After Football & Finding New Purpose

[34:57–44:14]

• Transition to media:
  Jason led the way into broadcasting, with Devin following closely after retirement.
• Challenge of identity shift:
  “When you’re done…it’s over. There’s no tapping back into the team. You’re on your own.”
• NBC opportunity:
  “Where do I sign, man? It’s been unbelievable…There’s no training summit, they just throw you in. So my anxiety’s building up…” [42:14]
• Finding joy in the new role:
  “That rush was so cool…I didn’t think I’d ever get that again from playing…That feeling was a stamp of, like, hey, man, you made the right decision retiring.”

7. Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Perspective as a Media Analyst

[44:14–50:27]

• Navigating tough media moments:
  The reality of reporting on close friends’ firings: “Now I’ve got to go and talk about these…they fired him…And going and talking about that…talking to the producers before we go on air…” [44:32]
• Balance of roles:
  “As a media member, I’m a former player, a huge fan, and like, I’m an advocate. I put all those things together.” [46:58]
• Teaching and entertaining:
  “Every time we go on tv, the top guys at NBC, they go, ‘Teach me something. Entertain me. Don’t just teach me without entertainment and don’t just entertain.’” [49:02]
• Parallel to coaching and teaching:
  “Coaching is not just the X’s and O’s...you can’t just bore people...you got to relate to guys.”

8. Advice for Athletes and PAC’s Mission

[50:27–58:38]

• Grace during transitions:
  “Give yourself grace…We had to give ourselves no grace [as players]. But you need it in this transition…Sometimes you need to have a day or morning set just for you.” [51:16]
• Normalizing the journey:
  “You might retire at 29, and you’re not a master at 32 of whatever you do next. That’s okay.” [53:47]
• Learning from struggle:
  “Sometimes you got to settle back…just keep hopping in things, keep trying them out, keep failing and getting back up…That CEO that’s a billionaire, he’s been trying to be that for the last 25 years…” [53:46]
• Faith and self-acceptance:
  “There’s no perfect time…It’s a process. It’s a journey.”
  • “I just got to be better than I was the day before…It was just that mindset of figuring out, like, man, it’s okay where you’re at now.” [56:07–58:26]

9. Building Community with PAC

[58:38–62:23]

• Evolving mission:
  PAC has expanded beyond NFL to pro athletes across many sports, recognizing common issues of identity and transition.
• Connecting athletes and business:
  “When I tell my friend that’s a CEO…he’s like, ‘I love when I go to hire someone and their resume says college lacrosse…because I know what I’m getting.’”
• Emphasis on service:
  “You just want to pour into people...that is it. When you have that as the backbone, sky’s the limit and there is a need for this.” [61:31]

10. Vulnerability, Testimony, and Legacy

[63:02–67:24]

• Turning pain into purpose:
  Devin reflects on losing a child and using his grief as a testimony to help others:

  “You just pick up your tears and you carry them with you...Whatever I go through don’t stop here. I gotta send it along. We gotta keep it going.” [63:46]

• Life as a chapter book:
  “At the end of the day, you close the book, the book’s done...But that’s your legacy…and the more we all lean into that...we’re going to realize we’re way more similar than we are.” [67:24]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On media doubt:

  “Are you aware that you’re an unpopular pick? People feel like they drafted a special teams player in the first round.” — Reporter to Devin McCourty [00:34]

• On mindset:

  “That 3% sounds better than 0%. So let’s go.” — Devin McCourty, on beating the odds to reach the NFL [15:24]

• On learning from others:

  “You can learn what to do…but there’s a ton of value in learning the things not to do.” — Host [19:29]

• On sharing the Super Bowl with family:

  “We took 30 people to the Super Bowl that year…This is a moment in time.” — Devin McCourty [27:11]

• On leadership:

  “You need to make sure you get leaders of people and organizations…We need more women, we need more input on how to run things…” — Devin McCourty [33:14]

• On transition advice:

  “Don’t be scared to just keep hopping in things, keep trying them out, keep doing those things, keep failing and getting back up, because that’s okay.” — Devin McCourty [53:47]

• On surviving loss:

  “You never get over this. You just pick up your tears and you carry them with you…Those blessings…don’t just come to us, they go through us.” — Devin McCourty [63:46]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early life & recruitment adversity: [03:38–11:30]
• NFL draft disrespect & rookie success: [00:28–02:28], [11:30–14:24]
• Father figures, family, and self-definition: [14:24–19:23]
• Playing with his brother in New England: [20:11–27:52]
• Leadership dynamics & coaching lessons: [27:52–34:57]
• Transition to media: [34:57–44:14]
• Authenticity and the analyst role: [44:14–50:27]
• Advice for post-football transitions: [50:27–58:38]
• PAC’s mission & growing the community: [58:38–62:23]
• Testimony & overcoming loss: [63:02–67:24]
• Reflections on legacy & closing thoughts: [67:24–end]

Tone & Style

• Warmth, humor, and humility: Real stories are told with openness and wit, with the host and Devin both comfortable poking fun at themselves.
• Candid, raw vulnerability: Discussion of family, struggle, and loss is honest and direct, providing powerful insight for listeners.
• Uplifting and pragmatic: Emphasis on self-acceptance, community, and service as routes to meaning and fulfillment.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Adversity, doubt, and setbacks are ever-present—even for those who appear to “make it.” What matters most is how you respond.
• Success is a journey, not a finish line. Leadership, family, and true connection grow through experience and challenge.
• Transitions, whether in sports or life, require patience, grace, and persistence. It’s normal not to have it all figured out right away.
• Sharing stories of vulnerability and overcoming hardship builds community and helps others find hope.
• Finding joy—beyond the field, at work, or in service—requires intentional mindset and a willingness to keep learning.

For more on PAC: www.proathletecomm.org

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