After opting out of the 2020 season, Dont’a Hightower is back with the Patriots for 2021.
The 31-year-old attended a few of the final OTAs this spring and then all of mandatory minicamp.
Hightower spoke to Stan Grossfeld of The Boston Globe on his decision to opt out, what last year was like and much more in a wide-ranging interview.
When he announced he’d be opting out last July, his son, Grayson Dash, was less than two weeks old. Hightower spent the year at his Tennessee home with his wife (Morgan), son and dog.
“My primary goal at that time was to take care of my family, and I felt like I did the right thing,” he said. “If I had to do it again, I’d definitely do it the same way.”
Hightower added: “I didn’t have my father around when I was growing up. So I just want to be there for him and show him right from wrong and build his moral compass and give him the right directions on his journey through life. I’ve been blessed in my life in a lot of different aspects, but being a dad tops them all.”
Even though he wasn’t part of the team, he was still paying attention and helping out in any way that he could.
Hightower and his wife watched every game and the linebacker communicated with some of the younger players on the team like Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings and Ja’Whaun Bentley.
”I was just enjoying myself like a normal fan,” he said. “Yeah, I like football and beer just like everyone else.”
Morgan added: “He was annoying as hell. It was like I was in the locker room, because he would know all the plays and coverages and tell me why they did this and why they did that. The worst was being quizzed on things that he just said that I did not understand. It was like a foreign language to me.”
Not playing last year gave his body a chance to rest, which is something his wife believes will ultimately help him.
“Football was all he did all the time, every day, and not just mentally, but physically,” she said. “He hasn’t had 365 days a year to rest his body. I think it will be good for him.”
As for Hightower's personal goals for this year?
“Win every game and don’t get hurt,” he said.
