The New England Patriots plan to promote defensive backs coach DeMarcus Covington to defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports on Saturday.The NFL team has not confirmed the report, “according to sources,” but the Patriots’ official website acknowledged it in an article on Saturday. Covington was a defensive end and tight end at John Carroll Catholic in Birmingham in 2006 and played at Samford from 2007 to 2010.
Covington began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UAB in 2012. He has been at New England State since 2017 and has served as the defensive line coach for the past four seasons.The Patriots have improved their rush defense each season under Covington. After being ranked 26th out of 32 NFL teams in 2020, New England was ranked 22nd in 2021, 7th in 2022 and 4th in 2023.
A year ago, Covington was the defensive coordinator for Team USA at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile. After 24 seasons with Bill Belichick as their head coach, the Patriots made a change this month, promoting linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to No. 1.
