DeMarcus Covington Among Up-and-Coming Coaching Candidates

Two NFL head coaches already lost their jobs this season. Several others appear to have a foot out the door. With that in mind, talk has turned to who will fill those vacancies in 2025. Some experienced head coaches will be among the strongest candidates, including Bill Belichick. But as was seen in the 2024 hiring cycle, some teams will be looking for fresh blood. Could New England Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington be among those under consideration?

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero identified some young coaches he believes could be in play for job interviews after the season. The criteria for the group is coaches under 45 who have not been an NFL head coach. Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman was the only college coach to make the list. Covington was among five NFL defensive coordinators included.

Pelissero stated the list is “based on dozens of recent conversations with NFL executives, coaches, and others close to the search process.”

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Coaches on the rise 📈

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DeMarcus Covington

The inclusion of Covington is somewhat surprising. Pelissero included a second group labeled “NFL Coaches to Watch in Coming Years.” That group seems more appropriate for Covington. New England promoted him to defensive coordinator in the offseason. It is the 35-year-old’s first season as a coordinator. Covington coached New England’s outside linebackers (2019) and defensive line (2000-2023) after he spent two seasons as a Patriots coaching assistant.

The timing of the article’s release also makes Covington’s inclusion feel odd. Had it been released a week earlier, the Patriots would have been coming off a 19-3 victory over the Chicago Bears. New England’s defense recorded nine sacks and allowed no touchdowns. However, this past weekend, the Patriots surrendered four touchdowns and registered no sacks in a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

New England’s defensive rankings among the 32 NFL teams: Sacks (No. 15), Red Zone Defense (No. 17), Scoring Defense (No. 18), Total Defense (No. 20), Passing Defense (No. 20), Rushing Defense (No. 20). With a 3-8 record an inconsistent performance on defense, it is hard to envision DeMarcus Covington getting serious consideration for a head coaching gig in 2025. That said, it is encouraging that he is being viewed by those around the league as an up-and-coming coach regardless.

“Covington runs the show on defense, allowing Mayo to focus more attention elsewhere,” wrote Pelissero “And the defense has gotten better as the season has gone on, with young players developing under the first-year coordinator. Covington has the traits — bright, good communicator, knows ball, liked and respected by coaches and players — to lead his own team eventually.”

Other With New England Patriots Ties

Some of the names on Pelissero’s list are expected to land head coaching jobs for next season. This includes Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who will be atop several team’s wish lists. But the list also includes some less-heralded names who could be interviewed for openings, either in 2025 or down the road. This included another Patriots assistant and four others with ties to the team.

New England selected Zac Robinson in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State. He never played for the Patriots. Robinson spent five seasons on Sean McVay’s staff with the Rams. He serves as the Falcons offensive coordinator this season after being a pass-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Los Angeles.

Bubba Ventrone, also known as Raymond Ventrone, played and coached for the Patriots. He spent the first two seasons (2007-2008) of his eight-year NFL career in New England. He began his coaching career with the Patriots as well. Ventrone was an assistant special teams coach in Foxboro for three seasons (2015-2017). He is currently the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator of the Cleveland Browns.

Three coaches from the “watch list for future years” have Patriots ties. This includes current New England quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney. The other two are former Patriots assistants, Rams tight ends coach and pass game coordinator Nick Caley, and Syracuse passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Ross Douglas.

Whether DeMarcus Covington or any of the others with New England Patriots ties land head coaching jobs in 2025, it is a good sign for their future prospects to land on the list of up-and-coming coaches.