Hightower retires after decade with Patriots
Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker was part of three Super Bowl wins
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Dont’a Hightower is making a quiet exit to a memorable career with the New England Patriots.
The veteran linebacker, 33, who did not play last season, announced his retirement Tuesday in an essay posted on the Players’ Tribune website.
It ends a decade-long run in New England that began with the Patriots selecting him 25th overall in the 2012 draft. It included three Super Bowl rings (2014, 2016, 2018) and a pair of Pro Bowl selections (2016, 2019). He also was named a secondteam All-pro in 2016.
Hightower called his decision “a happy day.”
“People always ask what makes the Patriots culture so different. Easy answer: it was about professionalism, period. You knew that you had to show up every single day — not just physically but more so mentally,” he wrote. “We had a saying, ‘If you do it right, you do it light.’ Being good was expected. Being great might even get you a thumbs up from (coach) Bill (Belichick). Luckily, I knew a thing or two about that from my time at Alabama under Coach (Nick) Saban.
“For nine seasons, I lived that mentality 24/7. Today, I’m totally at peace knowing that I gave this franchise every ounce of sweat I had left.”
Hightower appeared in 117 games in his NFL career, amassing 27 sacks and 353 tackles.
With his wife expecting their first child, he opted to sit out the 2020 season because of concerns about COVID -19. He returned in 2021, but his production was down. He played in 15 games, logging 64 tackles and 11⁄2 sacks.
He became a free agent that summer but didn’t sign a new contract.
Hightower likely will be most remembered for tackling Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch on the 1-yard line late in the Super Bowl following the 2014 season. The play preceded Russell Wilson’s pass that was intercepted by Malcolm Butler in the end zone to clinch the Patriots’ 28-24 victory.
Bills: Buffalo restocked its backfield by signing free agent Damien Harris to a one-year deal. Harris spent his first four seasons with the Patriots, and his signing comes a day after Buffalo lost starter Devin Singletary, who agreed to a deal with Houston. Harris led the Pats with 2,094 yards rushing and 20 TDS since being selected in the third round of the draft. He also had 40 catches for 281 yards. His best season came in 2021, when Harris finished with 929 yards rushing and scored 15 times, the second-most rushing TDS in a single season in team history. Three of his eight career 100-yard rushing games have come against Buffalo.
Cowboys: Dallas is bringing back defensive end Dante Fowler and running back Rico Dowdle while adding two outside free agents for depth in running back Ronald Jones and lineman Chuma Edoga.
Steelers: Pittsburgh signed longtime Eagles guard Isaac Seumalo to a threeyear, $24 million contract.
Vikings: Minnesota agreed to terms on a new contract with defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard.