“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.”
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.”
Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Confirms Polarizing Coach Will Return To Staff.
It would be easy to say the Patriots completely overhauled their offensive coaching staff, but there’s one polarizing member that will be returning to New England in 2024.
It just isn’t known what his role will be.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo met with reporters Wednesday, as the team introduced offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington and special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer. It was during Mayo’s session that he was asked whether or not former wide receivers coach Troy Brown would return to the staff.
“Troy Brown is still on the staff,” Mayo confirmed, per team-provided transcript. “… I would say the staff is still pretty fluid, but he is on the staff.”
Brown’s last few seasons have been rough, as New England’s love for the three-time Super Bowl champion started to wane when the Patriots’ receiving group struggled under his tutelage.
The Patriots have found replacements for his previous role. Tyler Hughes and Tiquan Underwood will combine to preside over the wideouts in 2024. Brown’s duties moving forward likely will see him continue coaching the returners, though the hiccup of any official announcement by the team comes as they find him a title.
February, though he noticeably was kept out of content the team uploaded and chose not to wear any Patriots gear during the week. He was the offensive coordinator for the American Team, spending time with a number of prospects that could be on Mayo and personnel man Eliot Wolf’s radar.
It remains to be seen whether or not Brown’s experience with those prospects has an impact on the Patriots’ plans, but he will be sticking around in New England.
