Packers Retain DeMarcus Covington Amid Defensive Overhaul
The Green Bay Packers are navigating one of the more dramatic coaching shakeups in recent franchise memory, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Head coach Matt LaFleur has been tasked with steadying the ship after a wave of staff departures - and in a sea of change, one familiar face is staying put.
Defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, who was widely considered a rising star and drew multiple interviews for defensive coordinator jobs this offseason, will be returning to Green Bay. That news comes after the Las Vegas Raiders - one of the teams interested in Covington - ultimately went in another direction, hiring Rob Leonard instead.
For the Packers, Covington’s return is more than just a coaching retention - it’s a much-needed anchor during a period of transition. After defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley left to take the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins, a domino effect followed. Sean Duggan, Ryan Downard, Derrick Ansley, Wendel Davis, and Vince Oghobaase all exited as well, leaving newly hired defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon with a nearly blank slate.
Gannon brings head coaching experience and a reputation for defensive innovation, but he’s stepping into a situation that’s been stripped down to the studs. That’s why keeping Covington on board matters.
He’s not only familiar with the personnel and the culture, but he’s also coming off a strong season that raised his profile across the league. His return gives Green Bay at least one thread of continuity to build on - and in a league where coaching chemistry can make or break a unit, that’s no small thing.
Let’s not forget: this is all happening in the wake of a playoff loss that still stings. The Packers saw a 21-3 lead evaporate against a division rival in the postseason - a collapse that, fair or not, tends to spark changes.
While the defense wasn’t solely to blame, the organization clearly felt a reset was needed. And it’s not unusual to see a new coordinator bring in his own people, but the sheer volume of departures this offseason is striking.
It speaks to both the success of the group under Hafley and the challenge Gannon now faces in replicating that success with a mostly new staff.
Covington’s return also presents a personal opportunity. With the attention he’s already drawn this hiring cycle, another strong season in Green Bay could push him squarely into the coordinator conversation next offseason. He’s already on the radar - now he has a chance to build a résumé that’s hard to ignore.
For LaFleur, this is the balancing act of building a strong staff: when you get it right, other teams come calling. It’s a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem - especially when it happens all at once. The mass exodus of defensive coaches this offseason is unusual, even by NFL standards, and it underscores just how impactful the Packers' defense was in 2025.
Now, the challenge is replicating that success - or even exceeding it - with a new cast of voices in the room. Gannon and LaFleur have work to do, but Covington’s return gives them a valuable piece to build around. In a season that already feels like a turning point, that kind of stability could go a long way.