Tag: Dont’a Hightower

Patriots OLB coach makes major Dont’a Hightower prediction

Could Dont’a Hightower follow in Jerod Mayo’s footsteps?

New England Patriots outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins had high praise for inside linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower.

He already views Hightower as a rising “superstar” coach with a shot at following in coach Jerod Mayo’s footsteps.

Hightower joined the Patriots’ coaching staff in January. He played for the Patriots from 2012-2021 and was an integral part of the defense. Now, he is dipping his toes in the coaching ranks. It will be a fresh start for Hightower, who has never been a coach before.

Still, his football knowledge could help the Patriots’ organization immensely. Wilkins believes Hightower can use this position to take his coaching talents to another level.

Per the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan, he said Hightower will be a head coach someday.

Hightower could indeed rise up the coaching ranks in a similar way that Jerod Mayo did under former coach Bill Belichick. His coaching career should be a fun one to watch, as he begins where it all started for him as an NFL player.

Dont’a Hightower thrilled to be back with Patriots as assistant coach

Dont’a Hightower admits he missed the game of football

Donta Hightower missed his time away from the game.

When speaking with media members, the former Patriots star and current inside linebackers coach opened up about his struggles adjusting to life away from the game of football.

“No cap. I missed it. … I know my wife was really adamant about me getting out [of the house], like you need to go to the bar, you need to go somewhere else and watch the game,” Hightower said, via Boston.com’s Conor Ryan.. “So I enjoyed it.

“Again, I was still at home texting (Ja’Whaun Bentley), (Elandon Roberts), (Raekwon McMillan), and everybody throughout the game —  like, ‘What are you doing out here?’ It’s good. I guess I’ve kind of been doing it for a long time.”

Hightower will have the ability to relate to players as a former player who hasn’t been retired for long.

He had a stellar career with the Patriots from 2012-2021, recording 353 total tackles, 27 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He was a pillar of strength for the linebacking unit, and now, he looks to impart his wisdom on the next generation of players.

The Patriots were strong on defense in 2023, and there are hopes that’ll continue this year as well with the team returning nearly the exact same unit that finished seventh in total defense last season.

Having Hightower on the coaching staff is certainly an asset, especially when considering his consistency as a player. His enthusiasm to return to the organization is great for the defense and team as a whole.

DC Brian Flores compares Dallas Turner to former Alabama/NFL star

This is a great comparison. #skol

When the Minnesota Vikings traded up from No. 23 to No. 17 to select Alabama Edge rusher Dallas Turner, many analysts are calling it one of the steals of the draft. Turner was a projected top-10 pick that slid down to No. 17, and he’s on the long list of former Alabama greats, who typically turn out to become solid NFL players.

When speaking with Vikings.com’s Tatum Everett, Flores was asked what player Turner reminded him of. Without hesitating, the Vikings’ defensive coordinator said another former Alabama great: Dont’a Hightower.

Hightower was an All-American linebacker under Nick Saban at Alabama. He was a first-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 2012 and played with them from 2012 to 2021. During his NFL career, Hightower was an All-Pro selection and a two-time Pro Bowl player. The former Crimson Tide has winning ways. He won two BCS Championships in college and three Super Bowls with New England.

“Yeah, I was asked this recently,” said Flores. “A player that comes to mind, and he was another Alabama player, Dont’a Hightower. Big, fast, physical, great traits, intangibles, and leadership. That’s the name that comes to mind. I think he’s probably a little faster than Hightower.”

If Minnesota can get Hightower’s winning ways, Vikings’ fans will absolutely love Turner.

 

Panthers great Cam Newton looks back on his legendary MNF run vs. Patriots

Cam Newton was roasting New England Patriots well before it was cool and airing on Netflix.

Carolina Panthers great Cam Newton just took a stroll—or perhaps a run—down memory lane.

As a branch-off to last week’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, the former MVP quarterback was asked about one of the most legendary scrambles of his career. The year was 2013, the setting was Monday night and the opponent was the New England Patriots.

Take it away, Cam . . .

That remarkable 14-yard run helped propel a 24-20 win for Carolina. Newton finished the memorable outing with a game-high 62 rushing yards and three passing touchdowns—one of which wound up as the game-winner to his favorite wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.

The primetime victory over one of the league’s premier juggernauts also proved to be a coming-out party of sorts for the ascending Panthers—who moved to 7-3 that night. They’d go on to clinch the NFC South later that season, marking their first of three consecutive division crowns.

And yeah, it looks as though Cam was roasting Patriots a decade before it was cool and airing on Netflix.

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Twitter reacts to Patriots hiring Dont’a Hightower as LB coach

What people are saying about Dont’a Hightower’s return on social media

The New England Patriots welcomed back Dont’a Hightower on Friday, following news that the former legendary defensive player had been hired as the team’s new linebackers coach.

It was ultimately a feel-good moment for fans that have cheered Hightower ever since he was taken by the Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Since the news dropped, social media has been flooded with posts of Hightower’s best highlights combined with praise for the Patriots for turning a dream hire into a reality. Hightower now reunites with his former teammate, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo, on a journey aimed at getting the team back on the winning track.

The defense performed at a high level in 2023, despite missing a multitude of players due to injuries. So it shouldn’t take Hightower long to get up to speed with a top-10 defensive unit with stellar talent at the linebacker position.

Here’s what people were saying about the hiring on Twitter:

Patriots hiring former legendary defender Dont’a Hightower as LB coach

Former legendary linebacker Dont’a Hightower is reportedly returning to New England

Former legendary defensive player Dont’a Hightower is coming back home to the New England Patriots as a linebackers coach.

The news was confirmed through Hightower’s agency, SportsTrust Advisors, on Friday.

Hightower, a three-time Super Bowl champion for the Patriots, was one of the greatest linebackers in franchise history. He played out his entire career in New England after being drafted by the team in the first round in 2012.

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has been trying to pull Hightower into coaching for years. He even brought up the idea as early as last April.

“I think Hightower would be a phenomenal coach,” Mayo said, when speaking with reporters. “So, we’ll see. When I get a chance to run my own ship, I’ll try to recruit him.”

Who would have thought that less than a year later Hightower would be accepting a coaching job under Mayo in New England?

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Dont’a Hightower rips particular no-call in Patriots loss to Dolphins

Dont’a Hightower was not pleased with this no-call in Patriots-Dolphins game.

The New England Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins by a 31-17 score on Sunday. But the officiating has been a hot topic from Sunday’s game with many believing it was a poorly called game by officials.

Even former Patriots linebacker Donta Hightower voiced his displeasure on one particular play.

Miami running back Raheem Mostert was fighting for extra yards on a fourth-quarter run. Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai appeared to knock the football loose. The ball slipped out of Mostert’s hands, but the officials did not end the play until the running back’s forward progress was stopped.

Hightower did not agree with the call and made his frustrations known on the platform “X”.

It was a frustrating day of officiating overall, as New England dropped to 2-6 on the season. It’s safe to say that New England has an uphill battle to close out the year respectfully.

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Who could be Alabama’s guest picker for ESPN College Gameday this weekend?

A few candidates could represent Alabama this weekend as the guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay. Who would you like to see?

There will be plenty of media personnel on hand for this weekend’s matchup between Texas and Alabama. Several familiar faces will be in Tuscaloosa prior to the game. One of those is the ESPN College Gameday crew. It will be the 17th time that the crew has broadcasted live from the University of Alabama campus.

Each week, there are guest pickers who join the set to pick games alongside the rest of the crew. In the past, Alabama has been represented by former Alabama quarterback Joe Namath and former Alabama golfer Justin Thomas.

Roll Tide Wire takes a closer look at some of the potential options to be the ESPN College Gameday guest picker this weekend.

Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 30 days

We are now just 30 days away from the start of Alabama football’s 2023 season!

The Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field for the 2023 college football season in 30 days, as Middle Tennessee State visits Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 2.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will be counting down the days until Nick Saban and his team take the field.

With 30 days remaining, we take a look at one of the best linebackers in Alabama football history, [autotag]Dont’a Hightower[/autotag].

Hightower roamed the field for the Alabama defense from 2008-11 before becoming a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

In his Tide career, Hightower would amass 234 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks. Hightower announced his retirement from the NFL in March of 2023.

Sophomore linebacker [autotag]Jihaad Campbell[/autotag] currently wears No. 30 for the Crimson Tide and should make a run at one of the starting inside linebacker spots this fall.

Dont’a Hightower’s Photo Gallery

54 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 54 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 54 jersey number

There are 54 days before the New England Patriots kick off their regular season opener. So we’re continuing our countdown series by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 54 jersey.

The two names that jump out in relation to that number are Patriots Hall of Famer Tedy Bruschi and a surefire future inductee, Dont’a Hightower. Both legendary linebackers spent their entire careers with the Patriots organization and won three Super Bowls each.

They’ve also both had at least one All-Pro nod.

More importantly, they have forever endeared themselves to Patriots fans by coming up with some of the biggest plays in franchise history. Who could ever forget Hightower’s strip sack on Matt Ryan to help New England complete the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history at Super Bowl LI?

And what about the epic stadium snow celebration, following Tedy Bruschi’s game-cinching interception against the Miami Dolphins in 2003?

The No. 54 holds some truly great memories in the Patriots’ organization. Here’s every player that has worn the number throughout franchise history (via Pro Football Reference):