'All Signs' Point to Patriots Hiring New Defensive Coordinator

After a two-week search, new head coach Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots have reportedly decided to promote and hire DeMarcus Covington as their defensive coordinator.

While new head coach Jerod Mayo continues scouring the NFL for his new offensive coordinator (nine candidates interviewed so far), he apparently has settled on a defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.

According to a Saturday morning report by Sports Illustrated, the Patriots are promoting defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington over the entire defense. The move doesn't come as a surprise, as last week we reported that Covington was "well-positioned" to get the job.

New England Patriots/Eric J. Adler

Says SI insider Albert Breer of the Covington hire, "Should be official early next week, New England has called other candidates to tell them they're out."

Mayo interviewed several candidates since becoming head coach on Jan. 12 including Denver Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker, New Orleans Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges and Carolina Panthers linebackers coach Tem Lukabu.

Covington, 34, joined the Patriots as a coaching assistant in 2017. He moved up to become the team's outside linebackers coach in 2019, and then the defensive line coach in 2020. He played receiver in college at Samford before beginning a coaching career with stints at Alabama-Birmingham, Ole Miss, Tennessee-Martin and Eastern Illinois.

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Over his time in New England, Covington has helped develop some of the Patriots' brightest stars, with Christian Barmore being the best example. Covington was also selected to be a defensive coordinator in the Senior Bowl last year, so he does have some brief experience in such a role.

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