Dont'a Hightower is a career quality starter — a pass rusher whose body of work places Hightower in the top quarter of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Hightower's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.
Dont'a Hightower
2× Pro Bowl👑 Dynasty DNA · 8 seasons · 3 titlesTop 22% all-time pass rushersHigh-End Starter🌅 Early Bloomer · 2014
Height6'3"
Weight260 lb
BornMar 12, 1990
Age36
CollegeAlabamaSee College Stats
ConferenceSoutheastern
Rookie yr2012
Draft2012 · Rd 1, Pick 25 · NE
All-Time Rank & Honors
career ranks, postseason ranks, awards, title context2x
Pro Bowls
3
Title Seasons
8
Dynasty Seasons
A quality edge rusher with a top 30% among starters — a legitimate starter who contributed meaningfully across their career.
Career Value · VORP
VORP 104 · #1056 · High-ValueWorth 104 points of value above a freely-available replacement linebacker — top 24% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 8 of 9 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +13 on average.See board →
Seasons above replacement
8 cleared
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit
47
Replacement
the KC-H bar
→
8
Seasons over
cleared the bar
×
+13
Avg surplus
peak +26
8 seasons × ~13 surplus ≈ VORP 104
Combined Season Grid
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.
3 grids split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Defense | Snap Counts | Advanced Defense & Coverage (2018+) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% | Tgt | Cmp | Cmp% | RateAll | ADOT | Prss | Hrry | QBKD | Bltz | MissTkl | Miss% | |||||
| 2012 | — | NE | 14 | — | 59 | 42 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 4.0 | 23.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | NE | 15 | — | 95 | 53 | 42 | 4 | 5 | 1.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 856 | 74.8% | 90 | 18.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | NE | 12 | — | 86 | 48 | 38 | 9 | 13 | 6.0 | 28.0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 835 | 97.9% | 59 | 16.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | NE | 12 | — | 43 | 33 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 3.5 | 14.5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 593 | 71.8% | 47 | 14.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | NE | 13 | — | 64 | 30 | 34 | 1 | 8 | 2.5 | 11.5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 | — | 0.0% | 708 | 82.5% | 53 | 15.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | NE | 5 | — | 14 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 237 | 69.4% | 20 | 14.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | NE | 15 | — | 47 | 23 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 1.0 | 10.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 774 | 79.5% | 78 | 18.4% | 35 | 25 | 0.7 | 87.3 | 4.3 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 105 | 4 | 0.1 |
| 2019 | — | NE | 15 | — | 60 | 36 | 24 | 8 | 13 | 5.5 | 26.5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 723 | 77.3% | 86 | 19.8% | 29 | 20 | 0.7 | 110.6 | 3.0 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 78 | 3 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | — | NE | 15 | — | 56 | 31 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 1.5 | 6.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 634 | 66.8% | 47 | 15.1% | 31 | 28 | 0.9 | 109.4 | 3.3 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 36 | 10 | 0.1 |
| Career | — | 116 | — | 524 | 308 | 216 | 43 | 67 | 27.0 | 137.0 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 0.0% | 5,360 | 77.5% | 480 | 16.6% | 95 | 73 | — | — | — | 41 | 21 | 10 | 219 | 17 | — | |
Defense
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 22 | NE | 14 | — | 59 | 42 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 4.0 | 23.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 2013 | 23 | NE | 15 | 12* | 95 | 53 | 42 | 4 | 5 | 1.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2014 | 24 | NE | 12 | 12* | 86 | 48 | 38 | 9 | 13 | 6.0 | 28.0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 9.8 |
| 2015 | 25 | NE | 12 | 9* | 43 | 33 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 3.5 | 14.5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.6 |
| 2016 | 26 | NE | 13 | 11* | 64 | 30 | 34 | 1 | 8 | 2.5 | 11.5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 | 7.2 |
| 2017 | 27 | NE | 5 | 3* | 14 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2.8 |
| 2018 | 28 | NE | 15 | 12* | 47 | 23 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 1.0 | 10.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7.5 |
| 2019 | 29 | NE | 15 | 12* | 60 | 36 | 24 | 8 | 13 | 5.5 | 26.5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 2021 | 31 | NE | 15 | 10* | 56 | 31 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 1.5 | 6.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6.1 |
| Career | 116 | 81* | 524 | 308 | 216 | 43 | 67 | — | — | 1 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 66 |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Snap Counts
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 23 | NE | 16 | 12* | — | 0.0% | 856 | 74.8% | 90 | 18.3% |
| 2014 | 24 | NE | 12 | 12* | — | 0.0% | 835 | 97.9% | 59 | 16.8% |
| 2015 | 25 | NE | 12 | 9* | — | 0.0% | 593 | 71.8% | 47 | 14.3% |
| 2016 | 26 | NE | 13 | 11* | — | 0.0% | 708 | 82.5% | 53 | 15.4% |
| 2017 | 27 | NE | 5 | 3* | — | 0.0% | 237 | 69.4% | 20 | 14.4% |
| 2018 | 28 | NE | 15 | 12* | — | 0.0% | 774 | 79.5% | 78 | 18.4% |
| 2019 | 29 | NE | 15 | 12* | — | 0.0% | 723 | 77.3% | 86 | 19.8% |
| 2021 | 31 | NE | 15 | 10* | — | 0.0% | 634 | 66.8% | 47 | 15.1% |
| Career | 103 | 81* | — | — | 5,360 | — | 480 | — |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced Defense & Coverage (2018+)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Cmp | Cmp% | RateAll | ADOT | Prss | Hrry | QBKD | Bltz | MissTkl | Miss% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 28 | NE | 15 | 12* | 35 | 25 | 0.7 | 87.3 | 4.3 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 105 | 4 | 0.1 |
| 2019 | 29 | NE | 15 | 12* | 29 | 20 | 0.7 | 110.6 | 3.0 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 78 | 3 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | 31 | NE | 15 | 10* | 31 | 28 | 0.9 | 109.4 | 3.3 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 36 | 10 | 0.1 |
| Career | 45 | 34* | 95 | 73 | — | — | — | 41 | 21 | 10 | 219 | 17 | — |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
KV-H Anatomy
KV-H 63 · Strong StarterA strong starter career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 63 of 100, era-normalized against sacks/g peers across 9 scored seasons.
59
Sustained
career value
×.6
69
Peak
best 3 seasons
×.4
×1
Longevity
career length
Blend 63 × longevity 1 = KV-H 63· confidence 96%
What builds the career mark of 59
On-field 42.1
Availability 16.9
On-field production Staying available
Season-by-season quality (era-relative sacks/g)
2012bestavg 57elite 702021
All-Time Standing
how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position13
Depth
of 100
Reached 14% of the all-time Sacks leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
14% of the all-time Sacks leader14
0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0
A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 88%.
Per-Snap Impact
Edge Rushers · proprietary · 2012+36
Rotational
SIS
Disruption/1002.463Snap share77.5%Def snaps5,360ReliableCV 0.41
Production per snap — the box score normalized by opportunity. SIS is z-scored within edge rushers, shrinkage-regularized so small samples don't spike, over the NFL snap-count era (2012+).
Career Aging Trajectory
vs. position group average · KV-H basisAmber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average linebackers aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
Combine · 2012
Percentiles compare each raw measurement against position peers, the full combine pool, and the same draft class where enough samples exist.
4.62s
40-Yard
Strong · 84th pct
Pos 84thAll 55thClass Pos 79thClass All 54th
32"
Vertical
Below avg · 34th pct
Pos 34thAll 35thClass Pos 33thClass All 36th
Postseason Career
17 playoff gamesDefense
Tkl80Solo54Ast26TFL11QBHits9Sk3.0Dis23.0Int1PD4FF1FR1
College stats are not imported for this profile yet.
StatVault has the verified college attribution (Alabama), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.
Reference Graph
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.
Top Teammates
Devin McCourtyFS9yTom BradyQB8yStephen GostkowskiK8yMatthew SlaterWR8yBrandon BoldenRB8yNate EbnerDB8yDuron HarmonS7yPatrick ChungS7yRob GronkowskiTE7yJulian EdelmanWR7yMarcus CannonOT7yJames WhiteRB7yJames DevelinFB7yJoe CardonaLS6yShaq MasonG6yRyan AllenP6yKyle Van NoyMLB5yDanny AmendolaWR5yTed KarrasG5yJonathan JonesDB5yDavid AndrewsC5yJamie CollinsOLB5yRob NinkovichOLB5yNate SolderOT5y
2012 Draft Class· this player went #25
Franchise Succession
the room, before and afterDont'a inherited the New England Patriots LB room from Brandon Spikes (2010–2013), and handed it to Jamie Collins (2013–2022).
Similar Players
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).
Movementderived from season history
- 2021final season
Last recorded season with NE
- 2012draft
Drafted by NE — Round 1, Pick 25
Athletic & Unique Profile
verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts6'3" / 260 lb
Frame
265 lb at 4.62s
Size-speed
Injury History
3 career games missed (Out)From nflverse weekly injury reports · coverage begins 2009.
| Season | Team | Games Out | Designations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | NE | 0 | W7Questionable· Elbow / AnkleW8Questionable· AnkleW9Questionable· AnkleW10Questionable· AnkleW11Questionable· AnkleW12Questionable· AnkleW17Questionable· KneeW18Questionable· KneeW19Questionable· Knee |
| 2019 | NE | 0 | W4Questionable· ShoulderW5Questionable· ShoulderW13Questionable· Illness |
| 2018 | NE | 0 | W8Questionable· KneeW9Questionable· KneeW10Questionable· Knee |
| 2017 | NE | 2 | W2Out· KneeW3Questionable· KneeW4Questionable· KneeW5Questionable· KneeW8Out· Shoulder |
| 2016 | NE | 0 | W2Doubtful· KneeW3Questionable· KneeW4Questionable· KneeW5Questionable· KneeW15Questionable· KneeW16Questionable· KneeW17Questionable· KneeW20Questionable· KneeW21Questionable· Shoulder |
| 2015 | NE | 1 | W6Questionable· RibsW7Questionable· RibsW13Questionable· KneeW14Questionable· KneeW15Questionable· KneeW16Questionable· KneeW17Out· KneeW19Questionable· KneeW20Questionable· Knee |
| 2014 | NE | 0 | W5Questionable· KneeW6Questionable· KneeW7Questionable· KneeW14Questionable· ShoulderW15Questionable· ShoulderW16Questionable· ShoulderW17Questionable· Shoulder |
| 2013 | NE | 0 | W5Questionable· Knee |
| 2012 | NE | 0 | W5Questionable· HamstringW6Questionable· HamstringW7Questionable· HamstringW8Questionable· HamstringW10Questionable· HamstringW11Questionable· HamstringW12Questionable· HamstringW13Questionable· HamstringW14Questionable· HamstringW15Questionable· HamstringW16Questionable· Hamstring / ShoulderW17Questionable· Hamstring / Shoulder |
Knox
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →
Historical Knox · KV-H
Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 9-season peers. See all →
63
peak 69
Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season
B2012
C+2013
B+2014
B2015
C+2016
D2017
C+2018
B2019
C+2021
Availability
Career durability — games played vs. scheduled, across 9 seasons.
81%
Era Translator
Sacks translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Sacks | Sacks/G | → 2025 Sacks | → 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 | 0.3 | 5+1 | 0.3 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.1 |
| 2014 | 6 | 0.5 | 8+2 | 0.5 |
| 2015 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 5+1.5 | 0.3 |
| 2016 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 3+0.5 | 0.2 |
| 2017 | 2 | 0.4 | 7+5 | 0.4 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.1 |
| 2019 | 5.5 | 0.4 | 6+0.5 | 0.4 |
| 2021 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 2+0.5 | 0.1 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:snap_counts, nflverse:combine, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:injuries · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026
Career Value · VORP
104 career value over replacement — #1056 all-time of 4,642. 11.6/season above a replacement-level LB.
Draft OutcomeValue ↑
Pick #25 (Rd 1) · NE · 2012 · +8.1 vs expected KV-H
63actual
54.9 expected · Δ+8.1
Fan Rating
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