New England Patriots: 3 greatest defensive backs to wear No. 24

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears runs with the football against Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots in the third quarter at Soldier Field on October 21, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears runs with the football against Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots in the third quarter at Soldier Field on October 21, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
New England Patriots Darrelle Revis (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
New England Patriots Darrelle Revis (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Darrelle Revis

Forget for a minute that Kyle Arrington and Cyrus Jones once rocked the No. 24.  For just one season, Darrelle Revis reminded New England Patriots fans how valuable a shutdown corner is in a Bill Belichick system.

More from Patriots All-Time Lists

In his lone season with the Patriots, Revis allowed 41 catches on 79 targets for 557 yards to prove that he was still an elite corner at the time.

While it is Revis’ previous resume that lands him on this list, his solid play in 2014 will always be remembered not for the plays he actually made, but the play that won Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks and made a name for Malcolm Butler.

Butler made a great play but having a shutdown cornerback like Darrelle Revis on the field really shortened the options for Russell Wilson.

In what turned out to be his last great season, Revis took the money and returned to the New York Jets the following season.  But, in 2014 New England Patriots fans were reminded just what Bill Belichick could do with a player the caliber of Darrelle Revis.

It really is a shame he didn’t play more than one season in New England.