Patriots’ Dont’a Hightower Making Huge Impact In Second Career

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo had long been viewed as a "future head coach" before he eventually locked down his current gig in New England.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders all interviewed the 38-year-old during his stint as an assistant, while the Carolina Panthers' request ultimately was turned down as Mayo agreed to an extension with the Patriots before being elevated to his current role.

Dont'a Hightower was chosen to slide into Mayo's former role, and has made quite the impression throughout his first few months.

Could he follow a similar path to the top?

"This guy is going to be a head coach in the NFL," Patriots outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins said, according to The Boston Globe.

Wilkins, whose office sits beside Hightower's at One Patriot Place, has now both coached with and against the 34-year-old, and feels his success on the field will translate to the sideline.

"I just remember sitting in team meetings in Baltimore," Wilkins recalled. "And just the respect that everybody in that building had for him. And honestly, the fear that the offensive guys would have, knowing that they were going against 'Boomtower.'

"He's Mr. February, right? He’s going to make the plays when they matter most. But what you see with a guy like that is he's also Mr. August. As a player and as a coach, he's going to outwork everybody. He’s a grinder who constantly cares about his players, cares about the details."

Hightower has been hard to miss in his first training camp back with the Patriots. He's the only guy who looks like he could step in and do certain drills more effectively than his players -- and oftentimes does. New England's coaching staff has a higher energy under Mayo, and one of the chief contributors is the man known at "Boomtower."

Is it too early to start fitting him for the crown? Yes, but he certainly has made a solid impression thus far.