Bill Belichick Releases Touching Statement Following James Develin’s Retirement

Patriots fullback James Develin decided to call it career. His decision was official, and the team has placed him on the reserve/retired list. head coach Bill Belichick released a statement on Develin’s retirement. The three-time Super Bowl champion fullback had a great contribution to the game. Belichick praised his work.

“To some people, James Develin may be ‘unsung’ in terms of publicity and fame, but to his coaches and teammates he is one of the most appreciated and respected players we have ever had,” Belichick said. “In football, there are a lot of tough, unselfish and dependable people who bring positive leadership on a daily basis, but the name James Develin represents those qualities at an elite level. A tribute to the impact James had on our success, of the five seasons in which he appeared in every game, we won three championships. Any team would be fortunate to have a James Devlin-‘type’ on its roster but the reality is he is a rarity and we are very fortunate he was a Patriot.”

Develin’s retirement is making headlines

Develin was really successful with the Patriots. In the seasons between 2013 and 2018, he had a key role on the Patriots roster. Belichick used him as a fullback and member of the special teams. The fullback missed the 2015 season after breaking the tibia. Develin sustained his injury in training camp.

Develin saw action in every game in his five active seasons as a Patriot. He made the Pro Bowl in 2017, and 2018 was his most successful year. Dev saw the second-most fullback snaps in the NFL and recorded four rushing touchdowns. He was part of the last winning squad.

At the beginning of the 2019 season, Develin sustained a neck injury. Belichick placed him on injured reserve. His absence was felt on the field.

The Patriots will have to rely on Jakob Johnson and Danny Vitale. New England added a bunch of talented players in the 2020 NFL Draft. Belichick sure has an idea for his fullback position. He had other positions to take care of. The Patriots are starting off a new chapter, and they will enter the 2020 season with a differently looking roster.