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DeMarcus Covington

2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at January 20, 2026 9:00 am

The 2026 head coaching carousel has now seen 10 jobs open since the start of the offseason, as the Bills have fired Sean McDermott. HC firings generally lead to coordinator changes, and several other teams have proceeded with OC or DC moves to start their offseasons. Here are the current OC and DC searches transpiring. As the remaining HC searches conclude, more coordinator searches will be added to this list.

Updated 1-28-26 (11:15pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Zac Robinson)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Todd Monken)

Denver Broncos (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Detroit Lions (Out: John Morton)

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)

  • Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Bears): Rehired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Greg Roman)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Frank Smith)

New York Giants (Out: Mike Kafka)

New York Jets (Out: Tanner Engstrand)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kevin Patullo)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Arthur Smith)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Josh Grizzard)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Nick Holz)

Washington Commanders (Out: Kliff Kingsbury)

Defensive Coordinators

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills (Out: Bobby Babich)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Matt Eberflus)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Jeff Hafley)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Jesse Minter)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Anthony Weaver)

  • Clint Hurtt, defensive line coach (Eagles): Interviewed

New York Giants (Out: Shane Bowen)

New York Jets (Out: Steve Wilks)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Teryl Austin)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Dennard Wilson)

Washington Commanders (Out: Joe Whitt)

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Wink Martindale, Jim Leonhard, DeMarcus Covington Among Jets’ DC Interviewees

By | at January 16, 2026 3:31 pm

The Jets’ defensive coordinator search has flown under the radar during a frenzied HC carousel, but it has taken shape Friday. The team announced eight candidates for the job.

In addition to interim DC Chris Harris, seven others received interviews. Don Martindale (Michigan), Jim Leonhard (Broncos), Ephraim Banda (Browns), Jim O’Neil (Lions), DeMarcus Covington (Packers), Daronte Jones (Vikings) and Mathieu Araujo (Dolphins) interviewed for the position.

Harris was reported as being likely to interview to keep the job, one he took on after the Steve Wilks firing, and Martindale came up as a candidate as well. The Jets submitted an interview request for Jones. Otherwise, their actions have been pretty quiet on this front.

Entering his rookie season as a head coach, Aaron Glenn tapped the experienced Wilks as his first defensive coordinator. The decision worked out so poorly that Glenn gave Wilks the ax in mid-December. Wilks lost his job the day after a 48-20 blowout loss to the Jaguars in Week 15.

The results didn’t necessarily improve in three games under Harris, who opened 2025 as the team’s defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. With Harris taking over for Wilks, the Jets surrendered a combined 106 points in losses to the Saints, Patriots and Bills.

Although Buffalo rested most of its key offensive players in Week 18, its Mitchell Trubisky-quarterbacked offense still teed off on the Jets for 470 total yards and 35 points. The Jets didn’t pick off Trubisky in that game, clinching an interception-less season for their defense. They became the first team to achieve that ignominious feat. While Harris is at least receiving consideration for a promotion to the full-time job, it would be a surprise to see the Jets choose him over the rest of the field.

Nobody from this octet carries more experience than the 62-year-old Martindale, most recently a D-coordinator at Michigan over the past two seasons. He has been a DC in the NFL for three teams – the Broncos (2010), the Ravens (2018-21) and the Giants (2022-23). Martindale’s Giants tenure ended after a rift with then-head coach Brian Daboll. The two got into a fiery confrontation before parting ways.

O’Neil and Covington join Martindale as former D-coordinators in the NFL. A defensive assistant in Detroit since 2024, O’Neil handled DC duties in Cleveland from 2014-15 and in San Francisco in 2016. He’s also a former Jets coach, having worked in multiple roles under Rex Ryan from 2009-12. Covington was the Patriots’ DC in 2024 under one-and-done head coach Jerod Mayo. He’s now the Packers’ defensive line coach and run game coordinator.

An NFL safety from 2005-2014, Leonhard spent three seasons as a member of Ryan’s defense in New York. The 43-year-old started his coaching career with Wisconsin in 2016. He worked as the Badgers’ DC from 2017-22.

Leonhard is now in his second season with the Broncos, who hired him as a defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator last year. Sean Payton promoted Leonhard to assistant head coach this season.

With the top-seeded Broncos chasing a championship, Leonhard may be a few weeks away from earning a Super Bowl ring as a key part of their staff. He’s also on the Cowboys’ radar as they search for a new D-coordinator.

Banda and Jones are also in the mix for the Dallas job. Previously a college DC at Miami and Utah State, Banda has been the Browns’ safeties coach since 2023. He fulfilled his interview request with the Cowboys today, too, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.

Jones, LSU’s coordinator in 2021, has coached in the pros with the Dolphins, Bengals and Vikings since 2016. He started his second Vikings stint in 2022 and has worked as a defensive pass game coordinator under DC Brian Flores since 2023. Flores, whose contract has expired, could leave for another job as a head coach or an assistant. If that happens, the Vikings may promote Jones to replace Flores.

Araujo was on the Yale staff before then-Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel hired him as an assistant DBs coach in 2022. He spent the past two seasons as Miami’s cornerbacks coach, but Araujo’s future is uncertain in the wake of McDaniel’s firing. If the Jets don’t hire Araujo and the Dolphins’ next head coach doesn’t retain him, he’ll have to look elsewhere in 2026.

Along with failing to record an INT, the Jets finished the year a lowly 25th in total defense and 31st in scoring. Their next defensive coordinator will have his work cut out in improving the unit, especially after the Jets traded cornerstone lineman Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner before the Nov. 4 deadline. The Jets received a haul of picks in those deals, though, and they’ll enter the offseason with a hefty amount of cap space. Between their draft capital and spending room, Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey will be in position to give the team’s next defensive coordinator more to work with in 2026.

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.

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Cowboys To Interview Christian Parker, Charlie Bullen, DeMarcus Covington For DC Job

By | at January 15, 2026 2:42 pm

The Cowboys’ search for a new defensive coordinator continues to expand.

Dallas will interview Eagles pass game coordinator Christian Parker and Giants interim defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen on Thursday, with Packers run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington scheduled for Friday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Parker, 34, spent six years as a college coach before getting his first NFL job with the Packers. He then serves as the Broncos’ defensive backs coach from 2021 to 2023 before taking on his current position in Philadelphia. In Denver, he played a crucial role in the development of cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Riley Moss. Similarly, he oversaw the breakout rookie seasons by Eagles cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in 2024.

Bullen, 42, has NFL experience with the Dolphins and Cardinals as well as some time in college at Iowa and Illinois. He was hired as the Giants outside linebackers coach in 2024 and quickly integrated Brian Burns into the Giants’ pass rush following his trade from the Panthers. Bullen then took over the team’s interim DC after Shane Bowen was fired in November. The unit improved significantly at the end of the year, allowing just 33 points in their last three games.

Covington, 36, spent four years at the college level before an eight-year stint in New England. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024 but was not retained on Mike Vrabel‘s new staff. Covington went to Green Bay in the offseason and held the defensive line together after the departure of Kenny Clark and injuries to multiple key players. He could be promoted to replace defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley if he leaves for a head coaching job, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Parker, Bullen, and Covington are the latest additions to a long list of candidates for the Cowboys’ DC job. Other requested or scheduled interviewees include former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard and their own defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton.

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Packers To Add DeMarcus Covington, Promote Sean Mannion

By | at January 30, 2025 10:18 am

One of Jerod Mayo‘s coordinators is expected to land elsewhere. DeMarcus Covington is expected to become the Packers’ defensive line coach, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky reports.

Although Covington interviewed for the Bengals’ defensive coordinator job, he has not been connected to another coordinator position since. In addition to the Covington move, Demovsky notes the Packers are planning to promote Sean Mannion to quarterbacks coach. This will be an important early-career elevation for Mannion, who ended his playing career after the 2023 season.

A Bill Belichick 2017 hire, Covington has spent his entire NFL coaching career in New England. The former college assistant worked his way up from an assistant level to position coach to Mayo’s DC. Covington had been in place as the Pats’ D-line coach from 2020-23, before climbing to a DC post. Other teams spoke with Covington about DC opportunities previously, though the year under Mayo did not go especially well.

Belichick had built a perennially reliable defense, and even his final Patriots unit — one that was without Matt Judon and Christian Gonzalez for most of the 2023 season — ranked seventh in terms of yardage despite the team going 4-13. The Mayo-Covington defense, which lost Judon to a late-summer trade but saw Gonzalez become a second-team All-Pro, fell to 22nd. Covington, 35, will look to rebound in Green Bay.

Mannion, 32, joined the Packers as an offensive assistant last year. The team saw Tom Clements‘ latest retirement open its QBs coach position, and while Connor Lewis was in place as the team’s assistant QBs coach in 2024, Mannion — a nine-year NFL veteran — is poised to land the job. The notion of third-string passers rising rapidly on the coaching market has included Davis Webb‘s Broncos transition and now David Blough being coveted by a few teams; Mannion is now on this track as well. This promotion also comes as ex-Packers QBs coach Luke Getsy is staying on as a senior offensive assistant.

Mannion and Matt LaFleur overlapped during the latter’s 2017 one-off as Rams OC; the Rams had drafted Mannion in the 2015 third round, primarily using him as Jared Goff‘s backup over the course of his rookie contract. Mannion enjoyed multiple tours as Kirk Cousins‘ backup with the Vikings, playing that role under Mike Zimmer and then Kevin O’Connell. The latter, of course, managed to vault from short-stint NFL backup to the Coach of the Year favorite.

Mannion made just three career starts — due to teams resting starters or a starter’s (Cousins, in this case) COVID-19 contraction, with the latter instance involving a start in Green Bay — and lost all three. This sort of resume has not impeded Webb or Blough, and the Packers will entrust Mannion with a key responsibility as they continue to develop Jordan Love.

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2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at January 26, 2025 9:57 pm

Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-21-25 (1:59pm CT)

Offensive coordinators

Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)

  • John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired

Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)

New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Promoted

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)

Defensive coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)

Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)

  • Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

  • Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
  • Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
  • Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
  • Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
  • Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)

  • Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
  • Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired

New Orleans Saints (Out: Joe Woods)

New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)

  • Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
  • Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)

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Bengals To Interview Patrick Graham, DeMarcus Covington For DC Job

By | at January 7, 2025 12:11 pm

Narrowly missing out on a playoff berth after entering the season with Super Bowl aspirations, the Bengals fired longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo on Black Monday. They are moving on a replacement search quickly.

Cincinnati is look to two candidates who came off worse seasons, in eyeing the Las Vegas and New England staffs. Raiders DC Patrick Graham and Patriots DC DeMarcus Covington received interview slips from the Bengals, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, and both candidates intend to interview.

Graham is set to meet about the position today, while Pelissero notes Covington’s meeting is on tap Wednesday. Teams can block coordinator lateral moves, so long as they do not involve a non-play-calling coordinator receiving that chance elsewhere, but Graham is no longer under contract with the Raiders. He is free to interview. With the Patriots again in transition, they have given Covington permission to make this potential lateral move.

The Patriots made a quick change, firing Jerod Mayo after previously promoting him without conducting a search. With Mayo having promoted Covington from D-line coach, this leaves the 2024 Pats DC on shaky ground. Featuring this century’s most dependable NFL unit (on the whole) during Bill Belichick‘s 24-year run in charge, New England’s defense dropped to 22nd in scoring and yardage under Covington. This came despite Christian Gonzalez‘s return to full strength. The Patriots did trade Matt Judon just before the season, however.

After the Raiders snapped a streak of finishing outside the NFL’s top half in scoring defense for more than 20 years — via the Graham-led unit’s ninth-place result in 2023 — the team closed in the 25th spot this season. That said, Las Vegas’ offense did not give Graham too much to work with; the Raiders ranked 15th in total defense for the second straight year.

Graham, 45, has much more experience — as he has been the DC with the Giants and Dolphins previously — and is on the Jaguars’ HC interview list. Both Graham and Covington, 35, are ex-Belichick assistants; though, they did not overlap in New England. The Bengals will see what each brings to the table soon.

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Patriots Rumors: Staff, Stevenson, Brissett, Baker

By | at December 25, 2024 8:53 am

It’s been a rough season for the Patriots in Year 1 of the Jerod Mayo-era. At 3-12, New England is staring a 3-14 season squarely in the face with remaining games against the Bills and Chargers. The struggles have come at every level of the game: the offense ranks 30th in points and 29th in yards; the defense hasn’t fared much better, ranking 24th in points allowed and 21st in yards allowed; and New England has turned in pedestrian numbers on special teams, as well.

When all phases of the game are points of weakness, and player development is becoming an issue, the finger tends to get pointed at the coaching staff. Mayo seemed to admit as much in a recent interview on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” on which he talked about a lot of “checklists…to go through” including “what players you want to keep around” and “what coaches you want to keep around.”

The obvious considerations that will need to be made are concerning offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, team owner Robert Kraft and his son, team president Jonathan Kraft, were seen in Week 15 seemingly criticizing the play-calling on offense. On defense, the Patriots have had few answers since losing linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to a season-ending injury early in the year.

Another coach with obvious question marks is the son of the former head coach in New England, safeties coach Brian Belichick. Belichick’s father, Bill, has accepted the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina, and his brother, Steve, is planning to join him from the University of Washington. If Brian also leaves to join his father, that will open up one hole on the coaching staff.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of New England:

  • For the second time this season, it sounds like the Patriots will be considering benching starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson in favor of Antonio Gibson, per Kyed. Fumbles have become a big issue for Stevenson in his fourth year of NFL play. Over his first three seasons, Stevenson combined for seven fumbles with the team losing only three of them. This season alone, Stevenson has matched both numbers with three lost fumbles on seven total. Gibson has had plenty of issues with fumbles in the past, as well. In his four years in Washington, Gibson fumbled the ball 12 times with eight lost to the other team. In 2021 alone, he lost four fumbles on six total. This year, though, on 115 touches, Gibson has only fumbled twice with the Patriots recovering both of them. Gibson didn’t do much with his starting opportunities earlier in the season, but a message was surely sent to Stevenson about his ball-protection. With the season largely out of hand, it seems a message would be the purpose of this benching, as well.
  • The Patriots have seemingly already moved on from veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett in favor of rookie No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. Luckily for the team, if New England wasn’t quite pleased with Brissett’s services as a backup or mentor to Maye, or at least is not eager to renew those services, they will have the opportunity to move on. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, when initially negotiating a contract with Brissett, the Patriots offered him a two-year deal. Brissett, reportedly, preferred a one-year contract, giving him the opportunity to see how the season played out. With Maye set as the starter for the foreseeable future, both sides will be able to explore other options as Brissett heads for free agency.
  • Rookie fourth-round receiver Javon Baker suffered a concussion in a car accident earlier in December, per Kyed. According to Mark Daniels of MassLive, Baker’s car was t-boned, and he ended up in the hospital. It was a scary incident for the 22-year-old, but he was cleared to practice and appeared in the team’s next game.
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Patriots Notes: Covington, Brown, Wolf

By | at February 21, 2024 5:54 pm

Considering New England’s unconventional approach to their defensive coaching staff in recent years, it was uncertain how much control new defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington would have on Jerod Mayo‘s staff. It sounds like Covington will have full authority over his defense, as the coach revealed to reporters today that he’ll be the defensive play-caller this season (via Karen Guregian of MassLive).

It had been years since Bill Belichick employed a traditional DC, with Mayo and Steve Belichick most recently splitting the unofficial role. The younger Belichick was the one calling defensive plays, but he won’t be sticking around New England after taking the DC job at the University of Washington. Mayo himself could have been a candidate for the defensive play-caller role, but it sounds like he’ll be leaning on his DC during games.

This will be Covington’s first time serving in either of those two roles in the NFL. Following a one-season stint as Eastern Illinois’ DC, he’s served in a variety of roles on New England’s coaching staff.

On the other side of the ball, Troy Brown will be sticking around as the Patriots’ wide receivers coach (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald). The long-time Patriots WR transitioned to coaching following his playing career, and he’s guided New England’s wideouts since the 2021 campaign. With Mayo revamping the coaching staff, it was uncertain if Brown would be retained in his current role.

Elsewhere in New England, there’s been a bit of confusion surrounding who’s actually leading the front office. Eliot Wolf is expected to control the 53-man roster for at least the time being, and it sounds like the executive had some extra responsibilities while Mayo filled his coaching staff. The new Patriots head coach told reporters that Wolf participated in all of the coaching interviews this offseason (via Kyed).

The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf, Eliot Wolf spent more than a decade with Green Bay before joining New England’s operation. His experience with the Packers has clearly been reflected on the coaching staff, as the team has brought in ex-Packers assistants like Alex Van Pelt, Ben McAdoo, Jerry Montgomery and Alonzo Highsmith.

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2024 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 9, 2024 1:10 pm

After a crowded carousel previously stopped, the 49ers opened their defensive coordinator position. Here is how the NFC champions’ search looks:

Updated 3-2-24 (10:00am CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dave Ragone)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Ken Dorsey)

  • Joe Brady, interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Bills): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed

Carolina Panthers (Out: Thomas Brown)

  • Marcus Brady, senior offensive assistant (Eagles): Interview requested
  • Brad Idzik, wide receivers coach (Buccaneers): Hired

Chicago Bears (Out: Luke Getsy)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Brian Callahan)

  • Andy Dickerson, offensive line coach (Seahawks): To interview
  • Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Promoted

Cleveland Browns (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Mick Lombardi)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Kellen Moore)

New England Patriots (Out: Bill O’Brien)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Pete Carmichael)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Brian Johnson)

  • Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Interviewed 1/23
  • Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Hired

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Matt Canada)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Shane Waldron)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Dave Canales)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Tim Kelly)

  • Nick Holz, passing game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Eric Studesville, associate head coach/running backs coach (Dolphins): Interview requested

Washington Commanders (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Chip Kelly, former head coach (Eagles/49ers): On team’s radar
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Hired

Defensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Mike Macdonald)

  • Zach Orr, inside linebackers coach (Ravens): Promoted

Buffalo Bills

  • Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Promoted
  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Sean Desai, former defensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview

Chicago Bears (Out: Alan Williams)

  • Joe Barry, former defensive coordinator (Packers): To interview 1/27
  • Chris Harris, secondary coach (Titans): To interview
  • Eric Washington, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Bills): Hired
  • Terrell Williams, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Titans): To interview

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Dan Quinn)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Joe Barry)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Mike Caldwell)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Derrick Ansley)

  • Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Hired

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Raheem Morris)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Vic Fangio)

New England Patriots

  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Promoted
  • Michael Hodges, linebackers coach (Saints): To interview
  • Tem Lukabu, outside linebackers coach (Panthers): To interview
  • Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed

New York Giants (Out: Don Martindale)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Sean Desai)

  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Vic Fangio, former defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Hired
  • Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/22

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Steve Wilks)

  • Gerald Alexander, safeties coach (Raiders): Interviewed 3/1
  • Daniel Bullocks, defensive backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/28
  • David Merritt, defensive backs coach (Chiefs): To interview
  • Nick Sorensen, defensive passing game specialist (49ers): Promoted
  • Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Clint Hurtt)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Shane Bowen)

  • Brandon Lynch, cornerbacks coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/30
  • Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired

Washington Commanders (Out: Jack Del Rio)

  • Joe Cullen, defensive line coach (Chiefs): Considered a candidate
  • Joe Whitt, defensive backs coach (Cowboys): Hired
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Patriots Promote DeMarcus Covington To DC

By | at January 27, 2024 2:21 pm

2:21pm: The Patriots have made it official, announcing that Covington will be promoted to the defensive coordinator position. Under the new head coach, Mayo, Covington will officially be the team’s first defensive coordinator since Matt Patricia left in 2017.

11:57am: It sounds like Jerod Mayo has zeroed in on his defensive coordinator. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, “all signs point” to the Patriots promoting defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington to defensive coordinator.

While the Patriots haven’t announced the move, Breer notes that the organization has notified other candidates that they’re out of the running. The move is expected to be made official early next week.

Covington has spent his entire NFL coaching career with the Patriots, working his way up from coaching assistant to defensive line coach, a role that he’s held for the past four seasons. Covington has helped with the development of former second-round pick Christian Barmore, and Matt Judon and Josh Uche have both had success on the edge under the coach’s tutelage.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes that Covington impressed during last year’s coordinator interviews, as the coach met about the DC jobs with the Cardinals and Chargers. It seemed like only a matter of time before he earned a coordinator job, and that opportunity has apparently come in New England.

The Patriots didn’t employ a traditional defensive coordinator during Bill Belichick‘s final seasons in New England, but Mayo and Steve Belichick were generally considered the leaders of the defensive coaching staff. Considering Mayo having been promoted to head coach and the younger Belichick’s uncertain future with the organization, the organization looked to fill the leadership void on their staff. Covington was one of four known candidates for the position, joining Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges, Panthers outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu, and Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker.

Elsewhere in New England, the Patriots have added two offensive coordinator candidates to the mix. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Patriots interviewed 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury for their offensive coordinator job. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that former Bears OC Luke Getsy also interviewed for the position.

Fleury has spent the past five seasons in San Francisco, including the past two in his current role. With Fleury leading the tight ends, George Kittle hauled in a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2022. This past season, Kittle topped the 1,000-yards receiving mark for the first time since the 2020 campaign.

Getsy lost his job earlier this month despite guiding one of the league’s top rushing attacks over the past two seasons. Before his two-year stint in Chicago, Getsy spent three seasons with the Packers as their quarterbacks coach.

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