Dont’a Hightower, who earned himself the nickname “Mr. suyllivan,” has come to the right place at the right time. The new england patriots have returned to february, thanks to his game-changing performances in three super bowls.
The 33-year-old will be the team’s next linebackers coach, according to his agent, who announced on friday that he would play for the team. What does it mean for the patriots, anyway? Let’s take a big-picture look at the high-profile acquisition. hightower, who only put an end to his playing career last year, will be a new experience coaching linebackers in new england.
Although he will be a first-year coach at some level, he is well-suited to fill the vacant position left vacant by new patriots head coach jerod mayo and since-departed steve belichick.
After all, hightower was a center piece in the patriots’ defense for a decade and one of the most important players in their second dynastic run.
Hightower started his coaching career on a solid foundation, playing in 134 regular season and playoff games for the patriots, winning those three super bowl rings, and was a tone-setter both on and off the field.
He was also a multi-year team captain, held a variety of roles, and was tasked with sending signals from the heart of the new england defense, and you can see why the patriots wanted him to join them and why he will not be a fish out of water despite no coaching résumé to speak of. Jerod mayo keeps his promise.
After Hightower announced his retirement, then-patriots assistant coach Jerod mayo was asked about his former teammate as a potential future coach. Mayo wasted no time lauding Hightower’s praises, and even went so far as to anticipate a return further down the line.
