The Patriots are entering a new era at linebacker

For as long as Bill Belichick has prowled the Patriots’ sideline, linebackers have defined his defense.

In the early 2000s, Tedy Bruschi and Willie McGinest captained dominant units that hunted Peyton Manning, the Pats’ only worthy adversary during their dynasty years, better than anyone. As Bruschi and McGinest closed their careers, the glitzy addition of Adalius Thomas in 2007 and Thomas’ tumultuous exit in 2009 typified the tenor of two wildly different seasons.

Then came Dont’a Hightower, a first-round rookie in 2012 who made the game-saving play before the game-winning play against the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. Two years later, Hightower strip-sacked Matt Ryan to further fuel the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. And two years after that, he and Kyle Van Noy combined for three sacks, six QB hits and a pass breakup while shutting down the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.