Patriots Coach Demarcus Covington Interviewing With Cardinals?
FOXBORO — As rumors continue to ebb and flow regarding a potential blockbuster trade between New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals, some movement within their respective coaching staffs may be on the horizon.
Just days after hiring ex-Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon as their head coach, the Cardinals have requested the Patriots permission to interview defensive line coach Demarcus Covington for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
Covington most recently served in the same capacity for the American squad for the 2023 Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL.
Having completed his sixth season in New England, and third working with the defensive linemen, Covington played a major role in leading one of the most productive units in the NFL. The Patriots defense finished eighth in the NFL in yards allowed, tied with the San Francisco 49ers for second in the NFL with 30 takeaways (the Dallas Cowboys had 33), third in the NFL with 19 interceptions, and tied with Dallas for third in the NFL with 54 sacks.
The Senior Bowl is one of the premier events on the pre-draft calendar. Despite the team’s 27-10 loss, Covington will got the chance to demonstrate his coaching prowess on a wider scale. Earlier this year, he was listed on NFL Media’s annual ‘Watch List’ of rising head-coaching candidates under the age 45. His dedication to preparation, as well as strategy, continues to make him a hot coaching commodity.
“As a coach, a player, you have to enjoy the process, enjoy the preparation,” Covington told reporters during the 2022 season. “You almost have to love the preparation almost as much as you love the game day because you practice more than you get to play in the game. It makes the games a unique opportunity.”
The 33-year-old Pats positional coach began his coaching career as defensive graduate assistant; spending one season at the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 2012, and two seasons holding the same title at Ole Miss. In 2015 Covington coached the defensive line at UT Martin. This was followed by 2016 when he spent the college football season as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Eastern Illinois. Covington joined the Patriots organization in 2017 and was a coaching assistant for two years before becoming an assistant outside linebackers coach in 2019. In 2020 he was moved to coaching the defensive line, where he has earned the trust and respect of his colleagues, but most importantly, his players.
Covington now becomes the third Patriots assistant to draw interest throughout the league. Though he declined each opportunity, linebackers coach Jerod Mayo received requests to interview for positions with both the Cleveland Browns (defensive coordinator) and Carolina Panthers (head coach). Former tight ends coach Nick Caley left the organization to accept the same position with the Los Angeles Rams.
The team has also made some notable additions to its staff for 2023, especially on offense. The Pats hired Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator, as well as offensive assistants Adrian Klemm (presumed to be New England’s new offensive line coach) and potential tight ends coach Will Lawing.
Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots
New England and beyond! Get your Patriots game tickets from SI Tickets ... here!
Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Click Here
More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.
