Devin McCourty honored as Celtics’ ‘Hero Among Us’

Patriots Former Patriot Devin McCourty honored as ‘Hero Among Us’ at Celtics game Devin and his twin brother, Jason McCourty, co-founded “Tackle Sickle Cell,” a campaign designed to bring awareness to the disease. Devin McCourty’s father passed away of sickle cell disease when he and his twin brother, Jason, were 3 years old. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
The Celtics honored a familiar face in Boston sports during their game against the Lakers Thursday night.
Former Patriots safety Devin McCourty was honored with the Celtics’ “Hero Among Us” award, an accolade given out at each home game to an exceptional member of the community.
McCourty and his twin brother, Jason, co-founded “Tackle Sickle Cell,” a campaign designed to bring awareness to the disease, over 10 years ago. Their father passed away of sickle cell disease when they were 3 years old. The twins had numerous other family members who similarly dealt with SCD, all inspiring the two to get involved in the process of finding a cure.
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The McCourtys have raised over $1.2 million benefiting Boston Medical Center’s care and research efforts through their initiative.
Sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder, disproportionately affects Black American individuals – 1 in 13 live with the disease, according to the American Society of Hematology. More than 100,000 Americans carry the trait, per a Celtics press release.
Today’s @IBEW103 & @necaboston #HeroAmongUs covered a lot of ground as a Safety for the @Patriots and off the field it was no different. Devin McCourty co-founded the organization “Tackle Sickle Cell” which has raised millions of dollars to help find a cure accessible to all. pic.twitter.com/U8aB8Act5K — Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 2, 2024
McCourty was also recognized as being a “dedicated criminal justice reform advocate” and “committed to positively impacting at-risk Boston youth” while he was honored mid-game.
The 36-year-old has successfully lobbied for Massachusetts to raise its minimum age for criminal responsibility from 7 to 12. McCourty has participated in panels to discuss criminal justice reform, worked with local initiatives supporting such causes, and advocated for a Brockton, Mass. man’s eventual commutation from a life sentence.
Devin McCourty is tonight’s Hero Among Us.
Devin and his family have fought for criminal justice reform, have been committed to positively impact at-risk Boston Youth, and have helped raise millions toward Sickle Cell research through their “Tackle Sickle Cell” campaigns. pic.twitter.com/0ZmX6sTGfN — Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 2, 2024
While he may be retired from playing football and is currently an analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America,” McCourty seems as dedicated as ever to fighting for causes important to him, earning him the honor of a hero among us at TD Garden.