Dont'a Hightower returning to Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Linebacker Dont'a Hightower, a defensive captain and key contributor to two Super Bowl titles in New England, is returning to the Patriots.

His agency tweeted a congratulations confirming his return to New England.

Hightower spent the last week fielding offers and meeting with potential suitors, including the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Reportedly, the Jets made an aggressive pitch for Hightower, lavishing him with birthday love as he visited Sunday afternoon into Monday morning.

The deal with the Patriots is reported to be through the 2020 season, guaranteeing him $19 million and paying a potential total of $43.5 million. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first to report the contractual details.

His trip to Pittsburgh was delayed slightly by weather, but when he arrived, the Steelers laid out a contract pitch that they said would come off the table if he left town without signing. That edict, apparently, was to make it clear the Steelers didn't want Hightower using them for leverage to get a better deal with another team.

Hightower did indeed leave Pittsburgh without signing a deal.

Originally drafted in the first round from Alabama in 2012, Hightower has spent five years in New England, playing in 67 games while making 372 combined tackles, with 17 sacks.

In each of the Patriots two Super Bowl wins over the last three seasons, Hightower has made key defensive plays - tackling Marshawn Lynch short of the goal line in the waning moments of Super Bowl XLIX and sacking Matt Ryan in Super Bowl LI, which forced a fumble that was recovered by Alan Branch.

Hightower has been a part of four championship teams since 2009, winning two national championships at Alabama and two Super Bowls with the Patriots.

In his first five NFL seasons, Hightower has earned $11.4 million, including $7.7 million in 2016.

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