Danny Amendola DWTS performance: Why former NFL star dedicated Week 5 dance to late coach Mike Leach

This week's "Dancing with the Stars" theme is Dedication Night, which each dancer choosing a song to honor an mentor, idol or loved one in their life.

Among the touching tributes was former New England Patriot Danny Amendola's contemporary number, which paid tribute to late football coach Mike Leach. Not only did the retired receiver nail his routine, he scored 36 out of 40, the highest mark of the night.

Here's everything to know about Amendola's performance, including why the NFL star dedicated his dance to Leach.

MORE: Updated scores for Ilona Maher, Danny Amendola and more from 2024 DWTS Episode 5

Danny Amendola's DWTS performance video

Amendola and his "Dancing with the Stars" coach, Witney Carson, performed to "Unsteady" by the X Ambassadors, and they received four scores of 9 out of 10 from the judges for their dance.

Why did Danny Amendola dedicate DWTS performance to Mike Leach?

Leach coached Amendola at Texas Tech from 2004 until 2007. They overlapped with the Red Raiders during Leach's first head coaching job, though his tenure ended in controversy .

Leach later coached at Washington State and at Mississippi State before he died in 2022 of complications from a heart condition .

Amendola had some touching words for his late coach after his performance, which two judges called a "breakthrough" for the former NFL star.

"He was an instrumental character in my life and my career," Amendola said. "His whole model was to swing your sword. You know, you're gonna go into a sword fight, you really want to get out there and really swing it. Since coach passed, I felt a piece of me missing. I don’t have my rock, I don’t have my guy."

"I miss him dearly and this one's for him."

Danny Amendola dedicated his performance on Dancing with the Stars tonight to Mike Leach. Here's Amendola on why his coach was so special to him: pic.twitter.com/yxpr439ORb

— Grace Ybarra (@gnybarra) October 16, 2024

MORE: Who is Danny Amendola's girlfriend?

Who is Danny Amendola's DWTS partner?

Joining Amendola on the dance floor is Witney Carson, 30, who rose to fame when she competed on "So You Think You Can Dance" as an 18-year-old in 2012. She finished third and joined DWTS in early 2013 as a troupe member before being promoted to a professional partner in season 18.

In Carson's second season as a partner, she won the whole thing while paired with actor and comedian Alfonso Ribeiro. She also earned a nomination for Outstanding Choreography at the Primetime Emmy Awards for her work that year.

The professional ballroom dancer has been married to Carson McAllister since 2016, and the couple have two children.