December 23, 2024

“Hightower Has Always Really Wanted To Coach” Patriots Legend Dont’a Hightower Takes On New Role: Named First Linebackers Coach Under HC Jerod Mayo.

He will be the new first linebackers coach under newly appointed head coach, Jerod Mayo. According to Pro Football Talk, Mayo revealed, “Hightower, he was my little brother when he got here and one of the smartest players that I’ve been around. Hightower has always really wanted to coach. He was a coach on the field.”

“Obviously, he took the torch and ran with it. As far as the championships and the leadership skills that he has, it was very important, but it wasn’t like a yesterday, ‘hey man, you want to be my linebacker coach’? This was an extensive search.”

Former Patriots LB Dont'a Hightower announces retirement: Why he's a Super Bowl legend - The Athletic

Hightower was selected in the 2012 NFL Draft in the first round as the twenty-fifth pick. He appeared in 117 games with the Patriots squad. In 2016 he was second-team All-Pro and two-times Pro Bowl.

According to PFT, he recorded a total of 569 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, total quarterback hits were 67, including five fumble recoveries and registered two forced fumbles.

Mayo further shared, “Just try to learn from as many people as possible,” Mayo said. “When I got here, I could talk about my journey.

You have a guy like [defensive coordinator] DeMarcus Covington, who really started off on offense, moved over to defense, quality control, then all of a sudden, he’s coaching the linebackers without the linebacker tag. He’s going to the front, but he had an extensive knowledge of different position groups.

Further continuing, “Also, I would say he really helped me with the behind-the-scenes stuff — the drawing of the cards and setting up practice and things like that. Steve [Belichick] helped me as well, but I spent a lot of time with DC and am confident in what he’s taught me. So, with Hightower, he should do the same thing.”

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