Dont’a Hightower talks transition from player to coach with Patriots
Once upon a time, Dont’a Hightower and Jerod Mayo were teammates.
Fast-forward to 2024, Mayo is the new Patriots head coach, and Hightower is back in New England – as one of Mayo’s assistants. Hightower is debuting this season as the Pats’ inside linebacker coach – naturally – and he’s certainly arriving with a unique status in the organization, as a guy who played with both his new superior and some of the guys he is now coaching.
Hightower met with reporters for the first time as a coach, rather than a player, on Wednesday before the team’s OTA practice in Foxboro. Before that, Mayo was asked about the adjustments Hightower has had to make going from player to coach, and made it sound like it’s been a bit of a rude awakening for him at times.
“He came to me this morning asking for advice, and I was like, ‘welcome to coaching,'” said Mayo, who is also in a unique spot as both a former teammate and former coach of his. “As much as you think it’s about X’s and O’s and getting guys to play hard for you, it’s also a leadership role. I mean, I’m a huge believer in you manage processes, you don’t manage people, you lead people.
![FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 29: New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo looks on during the New England Patriots OTA Offseason Workout on May 29, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2024/05/GettyImages-2155206940_1717015233_.jpg?w=1024)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 29: New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo looks on during the New England Patriots OTA Offseason Workout on May 29, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“We bounced some ideas off of each other but he has to come up with his own philosophy in the way he deals with things, so it’s been good for him. He should apologize to me, when I coached him, he kind of gave me those same headaches.”
Hightower was seeking advice on an inside linebacker room that still includes some of Hightower’s former teammates, including Ja’Whaun Bentley, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, and Raekwon McMillan. One might think this could be an awkward dynamic, but for Hightower, he feels it’s actually made the change go smoother.
“It’s cool that I can be able to relate and talk to those guys,” Hightower said. “It kind of reminds me of the old days, but it’s been cool. They’re real coachable. I know those guys in and out, I know them personally. It’s just made the transition a lot easier for me, made it comfortable for me to get up in front of the room and talk ball with those guys. I think as far as the communication goes, I think that will be easy. They know me and I know them. I don’t think it’ll be any miscommunication or anything like that.
![HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: Dont'a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2024/02/Donta-Hightower.jpg?resize=1024,774)
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Dont’a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
“Again, those guys knew how I was as a player and what was expected whenever I was there, and they got the keys now. … Those guys have been doing a really good job the last couple years. I’m just trying not to mess them up, just giving them as much knowledge and as many nuggets as I can.”
The Pats made one notable addition at ILB with free agent Sione Takitaki, who ostensibly replaced Mack Wilson, who departed in free agency. But this is an experienced group that is experienced playing with each other.
On top of that, they now have a position coach that they’re intimately familiar with as a former teammate. While the offense and the development of their young talent on that side of the ball will dominate the conversation this summer, the Patriots defense still has some intrigue to it.
MORE: Keion White making a strong early impression for Jerod Mayo
One big piece of that is how the inside linebacking corps will perform, considering the lack of big-time reinforcements, unless you count Hightower. They may lack a Fred Warner type of game-breaking talent, but they do have smart, tough, versatile players and good leadership with Bentley. They now have a former ILB teammate coaching them, and a former ILB at the helm of the whole operation.
This is a group that has a chance to surprise people this season, and Hightower’s coaching could be central to their performance. It’s a great initial test for the future Pats Hall of Famer.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.