Dont’a Hightower played his entire NFL career with the New England Patriots. From 2012 through 2021 he was a force from his linebacker position, helping the Patriots win three Super Bowls.
The New England Patriots introduced their assistant coaches on Jerod Mayo's inaugural staff Wednesday - but one newly hired coach needed no introduction.
It wasn't long ago that Dont'a Hightower was flying around the field as a Patriots linebacker. But the former first-round pick has not traded his cleats for a whistle, as he’ll be New England’s first linebackers coach under new head coach Jerod Mayo.
With an established top tier and some young options revealing themselves last season, here is a look at where clubs' QB depth charts stand. Contracts and long-term outlooks do not factor in here; these rankings apply only to 2025 on-field capabilities.
It is a true reunion for the New England Patriots coaching staff after Jerod Mayo made the ultimate decision to bring Dont'a Hightower back. He will serve as the insider linebackers coach. However, this wasn't just a spur of the moment decision by Mayo.
New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, the man who stopped Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line late in Super Bowl XLIX, announced his retirement in a Players' Tribune essay on Tuesday.