Remember him?

Former Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower is returning to New England as the Patriots’ new linebackers coach, his agency announced Friday. Hightower follows in the footsteps of his former teammate and coach, Jerod Mayo, who returned to the organization five years ago as an assistant. As the Patriots’ new head coach, Mayo has completed his defensive staff by hiring Hightower to the last position coach vacancy on that side of the ball.

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Hightower, 33, retired after the 2021 season and has been out of football ever since. He spent the last two years of his career with Mayo as his position coach, and played with his boss from 2012-2015. Mayo spoke about recruiting Hightower to his staff last April, when asked about Hightower’s recent retirement and the possibility of becoming a head coach one day.

“I think Hightower would be a phenomenal coach,” Mayo told reporters. “So we’ll see. When I get a chance to run my own ship, I’ll try to recruit him.”

Hightower won three Super Bowls and made two Pro Bowls during his nine-year NFL career. He entered the league as a first-round pick out of Alabama in 2012, started as a rookie and played inside and outside linebacker for the Patriots. Hightower was a force against the run and as a pass rusher. He also made a habit of playing his best in the Super Bowl, eventually earning the nickname “Mr. February” from Bill Belichick.

Hightower made his final Pro Bowl in 2019, when he led the NFL’s top-ranked defense during the regular season. He sat out the following year due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and returned in 2021 to start all 15 of his game appearances, recording 64 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a pass deflection and four QB hits.

Over his career, Hightower played in 117 regular-season games and totaled 569 tackles, 27 sacks, 67 QB hits, an interception, two forced fumbles and a safety.

“High and I have always had a great relationship. I was older. He was like a young pup,” Mayo said. “But he was very smart. He was very athletic. I got a chance to play beside him. I got a chance to coach him. There aren’t many people like Hightower in terms of just his smarts.”

Hightower joins DeMarcus Covington (defensive coordinator), Jerry Montgomery (defensive line), Brian Belichick (safeties) and Mike Pellegrino on the Patriots’ defensive staff. It’s possible Mayo will continue to add more coaches, with the Patriots employing two linebackers coaches in recent years.