Dont’a Hightower is an American football linebacker who is a free agent in the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 12, 1990, he played college football at the University of Alabama and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. For the first 10 years of his NFL career, Hightower was a member of the New England Patriots. He earned three Super Bowl championships and was selected to two Pro Bowls while playing for the Patriots.

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I college, he made the choice to forgo his last year of eligibility shortly after the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. He was predicted to go late in the first round immediately following the completion of the season. 

Hightower was chosen by the New England Patriots in the first round (25th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Hightower and the New England Patriots agreed to a four-year, $7.72 million contract on July 19, 2012, which included a $4.05 million signing bonus and a guarantee of $6.28 million.

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Hightower started his first playoff game of his career on January 13, 2013, and contributed three combined tackles to the Patriots’ 41-28 victory over the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional round. He made three combined tackles the next week as the Patriots fell to the Baltimore Ravens, who would go on to win the Super Bowl, 28-13 in the AFC Championship game.

In 16 games and 14 starts, he concluded the 2013 season with 97 total tackles, 55 of which were solo, three pass deflections, and a sack. In 12 games and 12 starts, Hightower concluded the 2014 season with 89 combined tackles (51 solo), six sacks, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble. Hightower started the Super Bowl XLIX on February 1, 2015, and contributed five combined tackles to the Patriots’ 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

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On April 30, 2015, the New England Patriots chose to activate Hightower’s rookie contract’s fifth-year, $7.751 million option. Hightower played in 13 games and made 13 starts in 2016, recording 65 total tackles (31 of them solo), 2.5 sacks, two passes deflected, and a safety. Hightower made an appearance in Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017, where he assisted the New England Patriots in coming back from a 25-point deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime. Two solo tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble were all recorded by Hightower. 

Hightower and the New England Patriots agreed to a four-year, $35.5 million contract on March 15, 2017, which includes a $10 million signing bonus and a $17 million guarantee. Hightower contributed to the New England Patriots’ 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII with two sacks and a pass deflection. Hightower declared on August 2, 2020, that he would not participate in the 2020 season owing to continued COVID-19 pandemic-related worries. Hightower rejoined the Patriots in 2021 and finished the season with 1.5 sacks. He was under contract until March 16, 2022. As of now he is a free agent.