The New England Patriots went with youth and familiarity in hiring new head coach Jerod Mayo, and are going the same route with their new defensive coordinator.
The Patriots are set to promote defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington to the defensive coordinator position, according to multiple reports. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted that Covington was being eyed for other defensive coordinator openings, and the Patriots were determined not to let him leave.
At 34 years old, Covington has been a part of the Patriots’ coaching staff since 2017. Initially serving as a coaching assistant, he later took on the role of outside linebackers coach in 2019 and was subsequently promoted to defensive line coach in 2020. Notably, Covington collaborated closely with Mayo, who coached inside linebackers in 2019, while Covington oversaw the rest of the position group.
While Mayo faces several significant staff decisions, he generally leans towards retaining those he has previously worked with. Given the positive recognition Covington has received, it comes as no surprise that the Patriots value him highly and were keen on retaining him within the organization.
