Former Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower will begin his coaching career in a familiar area.
Hightower is returning to the New England Patriots to join new head coach Jerod Mayo’s staff as the team’s linebackers coach.
Hightower was selected with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Patriots and would instantly become one of the franchise’s most important defenders and players. He spent his entire nine-season career in New England, helping it capture three Super Bowl victories in four appearances.
Mayo and Hightower were also teammates from 2012-15 before Mayo retired and ultimately turned to coaching as well.
Hightower started 114 of a possible 117 games with the Patriots and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2016.
Before his professional years, Hightower was one of the best linebackers of the Nick Saban era at Alabama. Playing from 2008-11, Hightower was named a consensus All-American (2011), a first-team All-SEC selection (2011), a second-team All-SEC selection (2010) and helped the Crimson Tide win two national championships (2009, 2011).
More must-reads: