By Stephen Ur –
Former New England Patriots linebacker D’Onta Hightower has announced his retirement, he announced via an article in The Players Tribune.
“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?
So 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.”
Hightower played all nine seasons with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls [XLIX, LI, LIII], but he sat out the 2020 season due to COVID-19 and also sat out in the 2022 season.
He is famously known for turning Super Bowl LI around by forcing a fumble on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan with the Patriots down 28-12 in the fourth quarter. They went on to win the game 34-28 in overtime after trailing 28-3 in the latter part of the third quarter.
Hightower also made the tackle on Seattle Seahawks running back on 1st and goal in Super Bowl XLIX. Malcolm Butler would clinch the win for New England with a goal-line interception on the very next play.
“Mr February”, as he is also known as, was drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Patriots. He finishes his career with 569 total tackles and 27 sacks in 117 regular season games played.
He is the second Patriots defensive player to announce his retirement. Cornerback Devin McCourty announced his retirement earlier this month.
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