Former linebacker Dont’a Hightower is retiring from the NFL. The player announced his decision today (21) in an essay published by him in The Player’s Tribune. This means that after 11 years in the league, playing for the New England Patriots, the 3x Super Bowl Champ is officially leaving the game.
In his statement, he talked about his feelings throughout his career. “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?”, he said at the beginning of his announcement.
And that’s true. Not many players spend 11 years on the same team and not many players retire wearing only one uniform. Not even Tom Brady. Drew Brees. LeBron James. Lionel Messi. All of them played for at least two clubs. Not Hightower. And he won. He was a champion. Three Super Bowl rings (XLIX, LI, LIII), two-time Pro Bowler (2016, 2019). That’s a lot.
“Every ring tells a story. When I look at that first ring, I think about the Marshawn tackle”, he said. For those who don’t remember, Malcolm Butler was the SBXLIX hero with that interception at the 1-yard line. But that play only was possible because of this tackle by Hightower on the previous play.
As a matter of fact, Hightower played a huge role in the other two Super Bowls he won with the Patriots as well. Besides the Marshawn Lynch tackle, he had a couple of clutch plays versus the Falcons and also against the Rams.
Dont’a Hightower
The linebacker is retiring from the league after 117 regular season games and another 17 in the playoffs. During his appearances in the regular season, he totals 569 tackles, 27 sacks, two forced fumbles, five recovered fumbles and one interception. In the postseason he had 81 tackles, three sacks one forced fumble, one recovered fumble and one interception.
