NORWOOD — Dont’a Hightower stood along a wall in a corner room of a local sports bar Monday night, anxiously awaiting the start of his second annual charity event. Unknowingly, he was perched directly beneath the iconic photograph of Patriots Hall of Famer Tedy Bruschi’s snow-tossing celebration, again aligning Pats linebackers of then and now.

Hightower’s Patriots career began in 2012 with Bruschi’s encouragement to wear his No. 54, and more than four years later, the blossoming defensive captain has made tremendous strides to entrench himself in the same community. But to truly be mentioned with Bruschi or remembered with other Patriots legends, Hightower will need to share their longevity, and the impending free agent and the Pats are working hard to continue their relationship beyond this season.

To date, Hightower’s career has been defined by his big-play ability and his tough, physical flair on the field. He most notably fought through a Russell Okung block to tackle Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line before Malcolm Butler’s Super Bowl XLIX-clinching interception, all while playing through a torn shoulder labrum. Hightower also gutted out a torn MCL last season and overcame a torn meniscus this season before recording momentum-swinging safeties in back-to-back games.

Away from the field, the 26-year-old typically shies away from the spotlight, though he has enjoyed immersing himself in the community to raise money and awareness for the American Diabetes Association. And Monday night, after signing autographs and mingling with fans who couldn’t stop bringing up the previous day’s safety against the Bengals, Hightower spent time discussing his place with the Patriots, his contract situation and his willingness to play through injuries.

“I want to be known as a smart, aggressive, tough, physical football player,” Hightower told the Herald. “In my mind, I feel like those are all the words I would use to describe myself. That’s part of it. I do what my coaches ask me to do and try to live by what my teammates expect me to do, either as a team captain or as the toughest son of a (expletive) out there on the field. I want people, whenever they think of Hightower, I want them to think, ‘Yeah, he tackled Marshawn Lynch on the 1-yard line, which was a great play, but he was a tough son of a (expletive).’ That’s kind of been my legacy, just doing what I can for my teammates.”

Hightower, who was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week yesterday for the first time, has a very real chance to be one of the five highest-paid linebackers in the league in the coming months, and he could join Luke Kuechly and Brian Cushing as the only current inside linebackers with a contract worth at least $50 million in total dollars.

“That’s just something that will be handled down the road,” Hightower said. “Until then, I’m going to do business as business is being done. I’m a Patriot. I love being here. I love the coaching staff. I love the fans. I love the teammates. I’m not looking beyond this year. I’m not worrying about anything else but this year right now.”

Hightower isn’t the only Patriot in a contract year, as linebacker Jamie Collins, cornerbacks Malcolm Butler (restricted free agent) and Logan Ryan, safety Duron Harmon, defensive ends Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long and defensive tackle Alan Branch are also in the final year of their deals. It helps for each player to know they aren’t on an island with their situation, but they’re also not bringing their business into the locker room.

“Honestly, I’m sure it’s in the back of everybody’s mind, but it is what it is,” Hightower said. “Honestly, I’m under contract. I’m not worried about it. It’s just football. That’s all I’m worried about.

“I feel like it’s a little bit easier knowing that I’m going through it with Jamie, Duron, Logan, a lot of guys on our defense. Obviously, guys want to be able to take care of themselves and their families, and that’s why we do it. But at the same time, right now, nobody on this defense is worried about their contract problems. Nobody is worried about that. We’re focused on winning. We know what we want to do.

“Contracts are contracts. We’re under contract this year, so the other stuff doesn’t matter. In my mind, if I take care of my business, and I take care of myself and the team plays well and I play well, everything else will take care of itself. As long as we’re winning, everything will take care of itself.”

The winning makes the legacy, too. The Patriots are 59-20 since Hightower arrived, though that level of success has been consistent since 2001, and the Alabama product has never prioritized anything on the field more than walking away victorious.

So when Hightower drew praise for Sunday’s performance, he deflected to guys like Branch and Malcom Brown who made it possible. And when playing through a tough injury, which was the case in Weeks 4-5, Hightower wasn’t concerned with anyone who would criticize him for not looking like himself, even in a contract year.

He views it simply: If Hightower can help the Patriots get a win, he isn’t concerned with how it looks, which makes him sound like the old No. 54.

“No disrespect, I don’t care what anybody outside the New England Patriots organization thinks about me,” Hightower said. “I don’t care if you think I’m tough. I don’t care if you think I’m too slow. None of that matters. As long as those guys that I go out to battle with and I go out to practice with, as long as they respect me and I’m able to help us win, that’s all I really care about. I’m here for my teammates. That’s all I’m really worried about.”