is calling it a career. After sitting out of the 2022 season, the linebacker officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday after playing nine seasons in the league."Today, I am officially retiring from the NFL," Hightower wrote in a post published in . "I know these announcements always feel bittersweet, but I can't Will Dissly Jersey think of a better story than the one I wrote in New England. A decade, three Super Bowls, two Pro Bowls, and the birth of my son all playing for one franchise. How many guys have a story like that? So this is a happy day for me, and I just wanted to Marshawn Lynch Jersey let you all know how much I appreciate you embracing a Southern kid from Lewisburg, Tenne see."Hightower was a first-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2012 out of Alabama and immediately became one of the pillars of the second leg of New England's dynasty under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. He was not only a three-time Super Bowl champion but played a critical role in each of those championship victories.Arguably one of the more underrated plays in club history is Hightower's goal-line tackle of running back Marshawn Lynch during Super Bowl XLIX. Hightower made that stop and prevented Lynch from scoring, Shaun Alexander Jersey and made his infamous interception on the next play. A force, a leader and a champion.Thank you and congratulations on an incredible career, ! New England Patriots (@Patriots) "When I saw Seattle line up in that I-form, I knew Beast Mode was getting it, and I knew they'd been gashing us with that strong-side lead all game," Hightower recalled in his retirement post. "I knew he was going to walk through a huge hole if I didn't take a risk. It's funny how things come full circle, because when I was at Alabama, Kirby Smart used to always tell us, 'Never ever go behind a block unle s you'reyou're going to make a play.' Well, I wasn Michael Dickson Jersey 't sure. But I figured we had nothing to lose. So I ripped up under Okung and shot my shot. All I saw was Marshawn's two legs churning, and I just prayed to God that I could clip him up or something. I reached out ... and you already know what happened next."Hightower also had a key strip-sack of quarterback during New England's epic 25-point comeback during Super Bowl LI. He also had a team-high two sacks against in the Patriots' win over the in Super Bowl LIII, making him one of the most clutch players in the franchise's history. The two-time Pro Bowler totaled 569 tackles over the course of his regular season career, 67 quarterback hits, 27 sacks, and two forced fumbles. In the postseason, he added 81 more tackles and three sacks. Hightower is also a member of the Patriots All-2010s Team and Patrick Kerney Jersey Patriots All-Dynasty Team
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