New England Patriots All-Time Interceptions Leaders

New England Patriots all-time interceptions leaders begins with a tie at the top. Raymond Clayborn and Ty Law both finished their Patriots careers with 36 regular-season interceptions, giving New England two legendary defensive backs at the head of the franchise leaderboard.

That makes this one of the most interesting Patriots stat lists. Clayborn was the original record-setter. Law became a Hall of Fame cornerback and tied the mark during the dynasty era. Devin McCourty came close behind with 35 interceptions while becoming one of the most important defensive leaders of the Bill Belichick era.

This ranking uses regular-season interceptions with the New England Patriots only. It does not include playoff interceptions, preseason stats or interceptions recorded with other NFL teams.

How This Patriots Interceptions List Works

This list ranks the New England Patriots career interceptions leaders by regular-season defensive interceptions recorded with the Patriots franchise. That includes the Boston Patriots era, but it does not include interceptions a player recorded with another NFL team.

That matters for players like Ty Law, Mike Haynes, Nick Buoniconti and Asante Samuel, who also had important NFL chapters outside New England. For this Patriots list, only their New England production counts.

Interceptions also need era context. Older defensive backs played in a different passing environment, while modern defensive backs face more volume but also more rule restrictions. The leaderboard still gives a clear look at which Patriots defenders created the most takeaways over time.

1. Raymond Clayborn — 36 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 36 interceptions, 555 interception return yards, 1 interception return touchdown, 191 games with New England, Patriots Hall of Fame cornerback.

Raymond Clayborn is tied for the most interceptions in New England Patriots history. He set the franchise standard with 36 picks and remained one of the team’s top defensive backs for more than a decade.

Clayborn was a smooth, athletic corner who could cover, close quickly and create turnovers. He also brought return ability, which made him even more valuable during his Patriots career.

Even after several great defensive backs came through New England, Clayborn’s interception record still stands. Ty Law eventually tied it, but nobody has passed it yet.

1. Ty Law — 36 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 36 interceptions, 583 interception return yards, 6 interception return touchdowns, 141 games with New England, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback.

Ty Law is tied with Raymond Clayborn for the Patriots’ all-time interceptions lead. Law was one of the defining defensive stars of the early dynasty and one of the best cornerbacks of his generation.

His ability to make game-changing plays separated him from normal shutdown corners. Law did not just cover receivers; he turned interceptions into momentum swings and touchdowns.

With three Super Bowl wins in New England and a Hall of Fame résumé, Law’s place near the top of this list is no surprise. He is one of the greatest defensive players in Patriots history and belongs in any serious best cornerbacks of all-time conversation.

3. Devin McCourty — 35 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 35 interceptions, 581 interception return yards, 2 interception return touchdowns, 205 games with New England, three Super Bowl wins.

Devin McCourty ranks third in Patriots career interceptions, only one behind Clayborn and Law. That shows how close he came to tying or breaking the franchise record.

McCourty started his career as a cornerback, then became one of the best safeties and defensive communicators of the Patriots dynasty. His intelligence, range and consistency made him a key part of New England’s defense for years.

He was not only a turnover producer. McCourty was the back-end organizer, the captain and the player who helped keep everything connected in the secondary. His Patriots career also gives him a real case among the best safeties of all-time.

4. Fred Marion — 29 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 29 interceptions, 457 interception return yards, 1 interception return touchdown, 144 games with New England.

Fred Marion is tied for fourth in Patriots career interceptions. He was one of the key defensive backs of the 1980s and gave New England steady play in the secondary.

Marion’s 29 interceptions show long-term ball production. He was not just a one-season takeaway player; he built his total across years of reliable defensive work.

His name may not always come up as quickly as Law, McCourty or Haynes, but Marion belongs firmly in the Patriots defensive record book.

4. Roland James — 29 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 29 interceptions, 383 interception return yards, 145 games with New England.

Roland James is also tied for fourth with 29 interceptions. He was a longtime Patriots defensive back who played a major role across the late 1970s and 1980s.

James gave New England durability and turnover production. His ability to stay on the field and keep making plays helped him climb near the top of the franchise leaderboard.

Being tied with Fred Marion and Ron Hall at 29 interceptions shows how strong this middle tier of Patriots defensive history really is.

4. Ron Hall — 29 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 29 interceptions, 476 interception return yards, 1 interception return touchdown, 88 games with the Patriots.

Ron Hall is the third player tied at 29 interceptions. He played during the Boston Patriots era and still remains one of the franchise’s most productive takeaway defenders.

Hall’s total is especially impressive because he reached 29 interceptions in only 88 games. That gives him one of the strongest interception rates among the top names on this list.

Modern fans may not know his name as well, but Hall’s production makes him a major part of early Patriots defensive history.

7. Mike Haynes — 28 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 28 interceptions, 393 interception return yards, 1 interception return touchdown, 90 games with New England, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback.

Mike Haynes ranks seventh in Patriots career interceptions, and he is one of the most talented defensive backs the franchise has ever had.

Haynes had elite cover ability, size, speed and ball skills. His full NFL career became Hall of Fame-worthy, and his Patriots years were a major part of that story.

Even though he played only 90 games for New England, he still picked off 28 passes. That level of production shows how special he was in coverage.

8. Maurice Hurst — 27 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 27 interceptions, 263 interception return yards, 1 interception return touchdown, 105 games with New England.

Maurice Hurst ranks eighth in Patriots career interceptions. He played during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a difficult period for the franchise, but he still produced consistently in the secondary.

Hurst was a reliable corner who stayed around the ball and created takeaways. His 27 interceptions put him ahead of several more famous Patriots defensive backs.

His place on the list is a reminder that strong individual defenders can come from rough team eras too.

9. J.C. Jackson — 25 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 25 interceptions, 220 interception return yards, 1 interception return touchdown, 70 games with New England.

J.C. Jackson ranks ninth in Patriots career interceptions despite playing far fewer games than most players above him. His takeaway production in New England was outstanding.

Jackson earned the nickname “Mr. INT” because he consistently found the football. He had strong instincts, ball skills and the confidence to challenge receivers downfield.

His Patriots career was not as long as the names above him, but his interception rate was one of the best in franchise history.

10. Ronnie Lippett — 24 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 24 interceptions, 420 interception return yards, 2 interception return touchdowns, 122 games with New England.

Ronnie Lippett is tied for 10th in Patriots career interceptions. He was a dependable defensive back who gave New England several seasons of strong secondary play.

Lippett’s 24 interceptions and two defensive touchdowns show that he could do more than just cover. He could turn takeaways into big returns and scoring chances.

His name deserves to be listed directly on this leaderboard instead of being hidden under a generic two-player tie.

10. Nick Buoniconti — 24 Interceptions

Patriots Stats & Accolades: 24 interceptions, 223 interception return yards, 91 games with the Boston Patriots, Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker.

Nick Buoniconti is also tied for 10th with 24 interceptions. He is remembered by many fans for his larger Hall of Fame career, but his Patriots chapter was excellent too.

As a linebacker, Buoniconti’s interception total stands out even more. Defensive backs usually dominate lists like this, but Buoniconti had the instincts and coverage ability to make plays on the ball.

His 24 picks with the Boston Patriots keep him among the franchise’s all-time defensive takeaway leaders.

Biggest Takeaways From the Patriots Interceptions List

The biggest takeaway is the tie at the top. Raymond Clayborn set the franchise standard, and Ty Law later matched it. Both sit at 36 interceptions, while Devin McCourty finished just one behind at 35.

The second takeaway is how strong New England’s defensive back history is. Law, Clayborn, McCourty, Marion, James, Hall, Haynes, Hurst and Jackson all show how much cornerbacks and safeties have shaped Patriots history.

The third takeaway is that J.C. Jackson’s interception rate was special. He reached 25 picks in only 70 games with New England, making him one of the most efficient takeaway defenders on the list.

Full Ranking Table: New England Patriots All-Time Interceptions Leaders

Note: This table is sorted by regular-season defensive interceptions with the Patriots only. It includes Boston Patriots and New England Patriots franchise stats, but not playoff interceptions or interceptions from other teams.

FAQ: Most Interceptions in New England Patriots History

Who has the most interceptions in New England Patriots history?

Raymond Clayborn and Ty Law are tied for the most interceptions in New England Patriots history with 36 regular-season interceptions each.

Who is third in Patriots career interceptions?

Devin McCourty is third in Patriots career interceptions with 35 interceptions.

Did Raymond Clayborn have 79 interceptions for the Patriots?

No. Raymond Clayborn had 36 interceptions with the Patriots. The number 79 is not the correct Patriots career interception total.

Who has the most interception return touchdowns in Patriots history among this top group?

Ty Law has the most interception return touchdowns among the top Patriots interception leaders listed here, with 6 interception return TDs for New England.

Who is tied at 24 interceptions for the Patriots?

Ronnie Lippett and Nick Buoniconti are tied with 24 interceptions each for the Patriots.

Are playoff interceptions included in this Patriots ranking?

No. This ranking uses regular-season interceptions with the Patriots only. Playoff interceptions, preseason stats and interceptions from other NFL teams are not included.

Conclusion: Clayborn and Law Share the Patriots Interceptions Record

Raymond Clayborn and Ty Law share the New England Patriots career interceptions record with 36 each. Clayborn set the original standard, while Law tied it during a Hall of Fame career that helped define the Patriots dynasty.

Devin McCourty came extremely close with 35 interceptions, giving the Patriots another legendary defensive back near the top of the list. Behind them, Fred Marion, Roland James, Ron Hall, Mike Haynes, Maurice Hurst and J.C. Jackson show how deep New England’s secondary history really is.

For now, the Patriots interception record remains a tie. Clayborn and Law still sit together at the top of one of the franchise’s most important defensive leaderboards.

More Patriots and NFL Rankings

For more New England football history, check out our best New England Patriots players of all-time ranking and our best New England Patriots defensive players of all-time.

You can also read our Patriots stat leaderboards for the Patriots all-time passing yards leaders, Patriots all-time passing touchdown leaders, Patriots all-time rushing yards leaders, Patriots all-time rushing touchdown leaders, Patriots all-time receiving yards leaders, Patriots all-time receiving touchdown leaders, and Patriots all-time sacks leaders.

For more NFL history, visit our best cornerbacks of all-time ranking and our best safeties of all-time ranking.

For the rest of the AFC East, check out our best Buffalo Bills players of all-time, best New York Jets players of all-time, and best Miami Dolphins players of all-time rankings.

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