Patriots make coordinator hires official
It’s official.
The Patriots announced they promoted defensive line coach Demarcus Covington to defensive coordinator and hired Rams special teams assistant Jeremy Springer to be their new special teams coordinator Thursday.
Covington was promoted last Friday at the end of a two-week defensive coordinator search. He coached the Patriots’ defensive line the past four seasons and served as the team’s outside linebackers coach in 2019. Covington originally joined the staff as a coaching assistant in 2017.
The 34-year- old was long seen as the Patriots’ top internal candidate. He is widely respected inside the building and viewed as a rising star. Covington interviewed for defensive coordinator jobs with the Chargers and Cardinals last offseason, when he also worked as a defensive coordinator at the Senior Bowl and drew rave reviews.
If he returns, defensive playcaller Steve Belichick is seen as a potential candidate to become an assistant head coach or advisor, according to ESPN. Belichick and new head coach Jerod Mayo effectively co- coordinated the defense since Mayo joined the coaching staff in 2019.
Springer was hired on Wednesday, following a second interview with the team. He has two years of NFL coaching experience and eight at the college level. Springer previously worked as the special teams coordinator at the University of Arizona (2018-20) and Marshall (2021).
Last season, Springer, 34, helped lead a bottom-ranked Rams special teams unit under first-year coordinator Chase Blackburn. The Rams’ special teams ranked among the NFL’S worst in more than 40 years, by the opponent-and- situation-adjusted metric DVOA. However in 2022, Springer helped kicker Matt Gay make 93.3% of his field goals, the second-highest mark of Gay’s career; a result Mayo may have found encouraging after watching rookie kicker Chad Ryland make fewer than two-thirds of his kicks last season.
In media interviews, Springer has espoused a coaching philosophy rooted in energy and passion. He took the job after the Patriots reportedly offered it to
Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams, who opted to stay in Atlanta with new head coach Raheem Morris. Thursday’s announcement coincided with the hiring of new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who filled the last coordinator vacancy on Mayo’s staff.
The Patriots are not expected to hold any press conferences for their new coordinators.
Krafts send letter
Patriots owner Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft sent a letter to season ticket holders Thursday.
The letter, obtained by the Herald, offered a brief reflection on the family’s 30-year tenure as owners and offered a small glimpse at the offseason ahead. The Krafts called the upcoming NFL Draft “the most anticipated” draft under their leadership. The letter said the Patriots’ offseason focus is “to acquire the talent and leadership necessary to rebuild a culture committed to winning.”
The Krafts also wrote about Mayo, whom they anointed as Bill Belichick’s successor a year before officially parting with Belichick.
“His roles and coaching responsibilities have expanded over each of the past five seasons,” the letter said. “We trust that coach Mayo’s intellect and leadership style will provide the foundation for the team’s long-term success here in New England.”
Jones open to Belichick
Barring an unexpected vacancy in the coming weeks, Belichick was shut out of the NFL’S coaching carousel Thursday when the Commanders filled the league’s last head- coaching job upon hiring Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
But might Belichick find himself in Dallas one day?
Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones sounds open to the idea, following comments he gave to Yahoo Sports this week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
“I know (Belichick) personally, and I like him,” Jones told Yahoo. “There’s no doubt in my mind we could work together. None.”
Jones recently committed to Dallas head coach Mike Mccarthy, who will return for a fifth season. Mccarthy’s contract, however, runs through the 2024 season, when Belichick could be a top candidate on the head-coaching market. Belichick, 71, officially parted ways with the Patriots on Jan. 11, and only interviewed with the Falcons this cycle.
Jones and Belichick have a long- standing relationship and mutual respect. The 81-year- old owner later repeated he would be open to working with Belichick down the road.
“Is (Belichick) maybe the greatest pro football coach of all time? Could very well be,” Jones told Yahoo. “He is a friend and I like him, and I want to make real clear: I wouldn’t have any problem working with him.”
Extra points
Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh, director of scouting Eliot Wolf, director of college scouting Camren Williams and senior personnel advisor Pat Stewart attended the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., an annual showcase for top college prospects. Last year, the Patriots drafted five players who participated in the Senior Bowl. … Mayo is no longer the youngest head coach in the NFL after the Seahawks reached terms with Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald to become their head coach. Mayo will turn 38 next month, while MacDonald is 36.