Dont'a Hightower, a three-time Super Bowl victor, announced his retirement on Tuesday after nine seasons as the leader of the defensive front for the
Dont’a Hightower, a three-time Super Bowl victor, announced his retirement on Tuesday after nine seasons as the leader of the defensive front for the New England Patriots.
“A force, a leader, and a champion,” tweeted the Patriots. “Thank you and congratulations on an incredible career.”
After being selected in the 2012 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama, Hightower signed with the Patriots. He frequently displayed his greatest brilliance on the biggest platforms, aiding New England in winning Super Bowl XLIX, LI, and LIII.
In Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks, Hightower made perhaps his most important stop when he stopped Marshawn Lynch on a first-and-goal carry as the Patriots clung to a 28-24 advantage in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. The pivotal takedown allowed Malcolm Butler to intercept the game-winning pass.
In Super Bowl LI, Hightower also produced a number of pivotal plays that helped New England defeat the Atlanta Falcons after falling behind early on in the game. In Super Bowl LIII, he also turned the life of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff into a living nightmare, helping the Patriots to a crushing 13-3 win.
The seasoned defender announced his retirement after skipping the 2022 season.
In aPlayers’ Tribune article titled “Thank you, New England,” Hightower wrote, “They say time flies in this league. Boy, they’re not lying. Today, I am officially retiring from the NFL. I know these announcements always feel bittersweet, but I can’t think of a better story than the one I wrote in New England. A decade, three Super Bowls, two Pro Bowls, and the birth of my son — all playing for one franchise. How many guys have a story like that?”
Hightower also said, “This is a happy day for me, and I just wanted to let you all know how much I appreciate you embracing a Southern kid from Lewisburg, Tennessee…Thank you. Just thank you. I wouldn’t rewrite a single chapter of this story.”
Former teammate of Hightower, veteran safety Devin McCourty also recently retired from the game.
