Patriots fill Jerod Mayo's old job with another franchise legend

Shortly after the news broke, NFL insider Jeff Howe of The Athletic wrote on social media that the 33-year-old was "born to be a coach."

Like his former teammate-turned-boss Jerod Mayo, Hightower was a first-round selection of the New England Patriots. Mayo was picked 10th overall in 2008 and Hightower was chosen 25th in 2012.

The pair of two-time Pro Bowlers were teammates for four seasons from 2012-15, shoring up the Pats linebackers corps and winning a championship together in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. Mayo missed the title game due to a torn patellar tendon and retired following the 2015 campaign, while Hightower finished the win with five tackles, including a crucial takedown of running back Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter.

Mayo was named the franchise's new head coach in January after serving as Bill Belichick's inside linebackers coach since 2019.

The Alabama product earned his Pro Bowl nods following the 2016 and 2019 seasons. The former also included a victory in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons where Hightower helped spur the historic 28-3 comeback with a strip sack and forced fumble in the fourth quarter.

He retired following the 2021 season and will now get a chance to reunite with Mayo and also Patriots star linebacker Matthew Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler joined Hightower in New England in 2021 and has arguably been the team's best defensive player over the past three years.