The 49ers were in quarterback hell last season when Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo went down, so San Fran reportedly contacted Ben Roethlisberger to come out of retirement.

New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower, a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowler, has announced his retirement.

Dont'a Hightower did not play in the NFL last season, but he never officially closed the door on his playing career. That changed on Tuesday, when the 33-year-old announced his retirement from the NFL.

Dont'a Hightower was clutch in the Patriots last three Super Bowl wins. On Tuesday, he announced his retirement.

Former New England Patriots linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion Dont'a Hightower announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from the NFL after nine seasons.

The longtime New England Patriots linebacker who won three Super Bowl rings with the franchise announced his retirement on Tuesday with a piece in The Player’s Tribune. He had not played since the 2021 season after his last contract with the Patriots expired in March of 2022.

Dont'a Hightower was kind of a forgotten man over the last year, but in no way should he ever be forgotten in New England.