Three-time NFL champion Dont'a Hightower pens emotional farewell letter announcing retirement

Former New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower officially announced his retirement from the NFL, in an article written for the Players Tribune.

The former Alabama star played his entire career with the Patriots since 2012. However, he did not play in 2021.

The former first round pick was a three-time Super Bowl champion with New England and was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2016, a Super Bowl title year for the Patriots.

Hightower, a two-time Pro Bowler, bidded farewell to New England.

“I just want to say thank you for helping me live my dream,” Hightower wrote. To you, to my beautiful wife, Morgan, to all my coaches, my teammates, my mentors, my teachers, my friends, my entire family, and to all the fans at Bama and New England … Thank you. Just thank you. I wouldn’t rewrite a single chapter of this story.”

Hightower opted out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic but returned in 2021 to play 15 games and put up solid numbers.

He finished his career with 569 total tackles, 353 solo tackles, 27 sacks, one interception, 18 pass deflections, five fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, two touchdowns and one safety.

“People always ask what makes the Patriots culture so different,” Hightower wrote. “Easy answer: it was about professionalism, period. You knew that you had to show up every single day — not just physically but more so mentally. We had a saying, ‘If you do it right, you do it light.’ Being good was expected. Being great might even get you a thumbs up from Bill. Luckily, I knew a thing or two about that from my time at Alabama under Coach Saban.

“For nine seasons, I lived that mentality 24/7. Today, I’m totally at peace knowing that I gave this franchise every ounce of sweat I had left.”

Hightower was the No. 25 overall pick out of Alabama in the 2012 NFL Draft. He was a two-time BCS National Champion with the Crimson Tide and was a Consensus All-American in 2011, his final collegiate season.

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As a member of the Class of 2008, Hightower was a four-star recruit out of Lewisburg (Tenn.) Marshall County, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 6 overall prospect in the state, the No. 32 linebacker in the class and the No. 281 overall prospect in the class.