FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Former Patriots linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion Dont’a Hightower will return to New England, now as an assistant to new coach Jerod Mayo.
Hightower and his agency confirmed Friday that he would join the Pats to coach linebackers.
Hightower’s decade-long career began in New England, which selected him 25th overall in the 2012 draft. His career included three Super Bowl rings (2014, ’16 and ’18) as well as a pair of Pro Bowl selections. (2016 and 19).
He was also named to the All-Pro second team in 2016.
His wife was expecting the couple’s first child in 2020, when Hightower opted out of the campaign due to concerns about COVID-19. He returned in 2021, but his production had declined.
He played 15 games, in which he had 64 tackles and one and a half quarterback sacks.
The 2021 season turned out to be his last. He officially retired in March 2023.
He appeared in 117 games over the course of his NFL career, totaling 27 sacks and 353 tackles.
Hightower played four seasons with Mayo. He came under him in 2019, when Mayo began serving as an assistant with the Pats.
Now, he will report directly to rookie defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, who was promoted this month after serving as defensive line coach.
Source: AP
2024-02-10 06:10:01
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