Longtime New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower officially called it a career Tuesday after nine seasons in the NFL. Hightower made the announcement in an article for The Player's Tribune, a moment the veteran linebacker called "bittersweet."
"... I can’t think of a better story than the one I wrote in New England," Hightower wrote. "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?"
Hightower, the No. 25 pick by the Patriots in 2012, finished his career with 353 combined tackles, 27 sacks and two forced fumbles in 117 regular season games.