Dont’a Hightower Announces Retirement after 11 seasons
The New England Patriots middle linebacker for the last decade has officially announced his retirement. Dont’a Hightower released a lengthy statement detailing his career, appreciation and retirement from the NFL Tuesday morning. A two-time BCS National Champion and three-time Super Bowl champion, Hightower had little left to accomplish in his career. After not playing at all during the season, Hightower has now officially retired.
After being selected with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2012 draft, Hightower quickly earned the starting linebacker job. He would remain a dominant force in the middle of the field in New England for his entire career. Dont’a Hightower steadily became one of the best Patriots in team history, earning accolades such as being apart of the New England Patriots All-2010s Team, and the New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team.
Hightower will retire alongside another Patriots defensive legend, Devin McCourty. New England will have a challenging time replacing not just the talent, but the leadership provided by a defensive veteran like Hightower, now that he is retiring.
Hightower’s impact on the Patriots:
In classic Patriot fashion, Dont’a Hightower let his work on the field do the talking for him. Put simply, Hightower’s resumé speaks for itself. The future New England ring of honor member created a legacy on a team full of notable players. Hightower also created his legacy with those of Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, and Mike Vrabel hanging directly overhead.
Hightower played a very active and important role in all three Patriots Super Bowl victories: His shoestring tackle to set up Malcolm Butler’s famous goal-line interception in Super Bowl 49; his strip-sack on Matt Ryan two years later in New England’s insane comeback against the Atlanta Falcons; Last but not least, Hightower made plays from sideline to sideline in an effort that held an explosive Rams offense to three points in Super Bowl 53. Hightower was the catalyst of a defense that did not get the credit it deserved largely because they had the G.O.A.T. as their quarterback.
Dont’a Hightower retiring, along with Devin McCourty, signals the end of a generation. Both players played crucial roles on a team that created a dynasty in back-to-back decades. The Patriots’ success in the 2010s had a large part to do with players like Hightower.
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