The Patriots are retaining key members of their defensive coaching staff.
The Patriots went through a lot of changes early in the season, but the defense is still one area where the coaching staff hasn’t had much influence. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? New England promoted Jerod Mayo to head coach and DeMarcus Covington to defensive coordinator. The two solidified their staff roles and replaced the Bills and the departing Steve Belichick.
But the Patriots retained safeties coach Brian Belichick and added his defensive partner to the returning roster for 2024-25.Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino will return to the team’s “reformed” coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. He is expected to maintain the position he has held for the past five seasons.
Pellegrino, 30, has been with the Patriots for nearly a decade, joining as an assistant coach in 2015. Jack Jones and J.K. Despite some issues with him, he did a decent job at the New England high school. Jackson. He is well poised to lead his unit to a bounce-back season, with regular starter Jonathan Jones returning along with Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones. Both players’ promising seasons ended in early 2023. The Patriots don’t have much cap space left on the defensive coaching staff.
Jerry Montgomery will replace Covington and coach the defensive line, with the linebackers the only position group without a coach. New England has split those duties between Mayo and Steve Belichick in recent seasons, so they should add some names.