Bengals’ Pitcher interviews for OC post
The Patriots interviewed Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher for their offensive coordinator job Tuesday, according to reports.
Pitcher, 37, spent the last eight seasons in Cincinnati, where he’s coached quarterbacks since 2018. Since 2020, Pitcher has overseen Joe Burrow’s development from No. 1 overall pick to Pro Bowler and AFC champion. Pitcher is the fourth known candidate for the Patriots’ vacant offensive coordinator position after Rams assistants Nick Caley and Zac Robinson and new Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
Waldron, who recently left Seattle after serving for three years as their offensive coordinator, was hired Monday in Chicago. He is an ex-rams assistant, who also worked under head coach Sean Mcvay. Waldron’s interview was first reported Tuesday by Sports Illustrated.
Like Caley and Robinson, Pitcher has experience coaching a Mcvay-style offense. He is the only candidate thus far not to work directly under Mcvay, who hired Caley, an ex-patriots assistant of eight years, last offseason.
Pitcher also reportedly has offensive coordinator interviews set up with the Saints and Raiders. He might also have the option to succeed Brian Callahan as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, after Callahan reached terms to become the Titans’ head coach late Monday.
Pitcher originally joined the Bengals in 2016 as a low-level offensive assistant who worked with wide receivers and then quarterbacks under former head coach Marvin Lewis. After Lewis was fired in 2019, current Bengals headman Zac Taylor kept him with the quarterbacks. Pitcher assisted with in-game clock management that season.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Pitcher also handles third-down game-planning for the Bengals. Burrow has spoken glowingly of his position coach, saying: “We mesh so well in the meeting room and on the sideline. We have a great working relationship.”
Pitcher received interest from the Ravens and Buccaneers for
their offensive coordinator jobs last offseason, per the NFL Network. That interest, including one interview with Tampa Bay, led to a lucrative contract extension in Cincinnati.
A former college quarterback at SUNY Cortland, Pitcher entered the coaching ranks as offensive assistant with his alma mater in 2012. He left after one year to join the Colts’ scouting department, where stayed for four years and was eventually promoted to pro scout.
The Patriots must interview at least one external, minority candidate before concluding their offensive coordinator search, per the NFL’S Rooney Rule. New head coach Jerod Mayo is
also conducting concurrent searches to find his next defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. Either or both of those searches could conclude at any time, having already satisfied the Rooney Rule.
Covington ‘favorite’ for DC job
Patriots defensive line coach Demarcus Covington is a “strong favorite” to be promoted to defensive coordinator, per Sports Illustrated.
Covington is the Patriots’ longest-tenured defensive assistant after Steve Belichick. He served as their defensive line coach each of the past four seasons, outside linebackers coach in 2019 and as a coaching assistant in 2017-18. Covington, 34, is well-respected by staffers and players alike, some of whom see him as
a potential head coach one day.
“Definitely,” Patriots defensive lineman and captain Deatrich Wise told the Herald in November. “He has a great understanding of the entire defense and scheme. He can coach defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs. He sees the big picture, he’s a good players coach and can control the room.”
Last year, Covington worked as a defensive coordinator at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He came highly recommended by former head coach Bill Belichick, and ran a tight ship, per Senior Bowl executive director and ex-patriots scout Jim Nagy.
“He did a great job from a command and authoritative standpoint, and having juice and everything you would look for in a leadership role. He had that stuff,”
Nagy told the Herald. “And I thought he did a really good job. There were no hiccups during the week. … And watching him out at practice, he did a great job. And that’s not easy.”
According to reports, the Patriots have already interviewed Panthers linebackers coach Tem Lukabu, Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker, Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges and Steelers assistant defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander for their defensive coordinator job. Alexander, an ex-assistant in Miami under former Patriots coaches Brian Flores and Josh Boyer, interviewed in recent days, per Sports Illustrated.
Extra points
According to The Athletic, Belichick’s candidacy in the Falcons’ head-coaching
search “lost momentum” over the past week. Belichick originally met with owner Arthur Blank more than a week ago and interviewed with Falcons brass last Friday. The team has since requested several interviews with other candidates. On Tuesday, Atlanta submitted requests to speak in-person with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who cannot interview until next week at the earliest. … ESPN’S Mel Kiper Jr. released his first NFL mock draft of the offseason Tuesday and predicted the Patriots will draft North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick. Kiper projected USC quarterback Caleb Williams to Chicago at No. 1 overall and LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels to the Commanders at No. 2.