New England Patriots - NESN.com
Dont’a Hightower’s coaching tenure with the Patriots apparently won’t last as long as his playing days.
The former Patriots linebacker, who was hired by Jerod Mayo, won’t return under new head coach Mike Vrabel, as first reported by MassLive’s Mark Daniels on Monday.
Hightower served as the Patriots inside linebackers coach in 2024. New England’s inside linebackers were among the areas of weakness on the Patriots defense, though the season-ending injury to captain Ja’Whaun Bentley surely didn’t help things.
Hightower played eight seasons for Bill Belichick’s Patriots, the 34-year-old never crossing paths with Vrabel. Hightower won three Super Bowls with the organization and was lauded for his postseason play during those runs.
Drew Wilkins, who served as the outside linebackers coach under Mayo, also won’t return, per McDaniels.
According to various reports, the Patriots also are hiring Thomas Brown as their tight ends coach/pass game coordinator as well as longtime coach Doug Marrone and Jason Houghtaling. Both Marrone and Houghtaling have worked with offensive linemen in the past.
