DeMarcus Covington To Become Patriots Defensive Coordinator

The New England Patriots are set to name their defensive coordinator for 2024. Defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington will reportedly be promoted to the defensive coordinator role in New England. An official announcement is expected to come within the next few days.

Albert Breer was the first to report.

All signs point to the Patriots promoting DL coach DeMarcus Covington to defensive coordinator, per sources. Should be official early next week, New England has called other candidates to tell them they're out.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 27, 2024

There were five known interviews for the position. Former Steelers assistant Gerald Alexander recently accepted the job as Raiders safeties coach, indicating he was aware he would not land the job in New England. Fellow candidate Tem Lukabu (formerly the Panthers OLB Coach) could still land a job on New England’s staff.

DeMarcus Covington was considered the primary candidate for the position among the 2023 New England Patriots staff. He was also the only in-house candidate known to have been interviewed. Covington is only 34 years old but has been with the Patriots organization since 2017. After two years as a coaching assistant, he became the outside linebackers coach in 2019. Covington has coached the defensive line for the past four seasons. Christian Barmore blossomed into a star under his tutelage.

Retaining Covington could also mean keeping several members from last season’s defensive coaching staff. Head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed that both Steve Belichick (linebackers) and Brian Belichick (safeties) have invitations to return if they choose. Others on the staff who could be back include Mike Pellegrino (cornerbacks) and Keith Jones (defensive line). Lukabu is also an option to join New England’s staff.

DeMarcus Covington will be the first person to hold the actual title of defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots since Matt Patricia in 2017.