High-Profile Coach Lands New NFL Gig After Leaving Patriots

The Patriots will soon officially bid their old defensive coordinator adieu.

The Packers are planning to hire DeMarcus Covington as their new defensive line coach, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Green Bay will also promote Sean Mannion to quarterbacks coach amid the flurry of coaching staff moves, per the report.

Covington was once viewed as a homegrown success story in New England. The Patriots initially poached him from the collegiate ranks as a general coaching assistant (2017-2018), but he was quickly entrusted with a full-time position coaching outside linebackers (2019) and the defensive line (2020-2023). The 35-year-old was then elevated to defensive coordinator after Jerod Mayo was hired as head coach in 2024.

Covington’s unit struggled mightily in his lone season calling defensive signals, finishing 22nd in overall defense, 22nd in scoring defense, 23rd in rushing defense, 25th in red zone defense and 26th in third-down defense.

NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero labeled the up-and-comer as a head coaching candidate for 2025. Pelissero’s list was based on conversations with NFL executives, coaches and others who take part in the search process.

The Patriots obviously did not retain him upon hiring Mike Vrabel, leaving him free to land a new gig. Covington reportedly interviewed with the Cincinnati Bengals for their defensive coordinator position.