The Las Vegas Raiders’ search for a defensive coordinator is heating up, and one name that’s gaining traction is DeMarcus Covington - a coach whose résumé quietly carries more weight than you might think.
After a slow start to the hiring cycle, new head coach Klint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek are starting to find their rhythm. They've already spoken with promising defensive assistants like Aubrey Pleasant and Jeff Howard, two young minds who’ve been on the radar for several teams. But while those interviews signal a willingness to think outside the box, there’s also a growing sense that this team - especially with a first-time head coach in Kubiak - could benefit from a more seasoned voice on the defensive side of the ball.
Enter Covington.
Currently on the Green Bay Packers’ staff as a defensive line coach and passing game coordinator, Covington brings something that’s hard to find in a 36-year-old: real NFL defensive coordinator experience. He held that title with the New England Patriots as recently as the 2024 season, a year that tested even the most creative defensive minds.
The Patriots struggled with injuries and a roster that lacked top-tier talent, but Covington’s unit still managed to finish in the top 10 against the pass and ranked middle-of-the-pack in rush defense. Not elite, but certainly respectable given the circumstances.
And here's where it gets interesting - Covington isn’t just a Belichick disciple. He cut his teeth in Foxborough during the twilight of Tom Brady’s Patriots run, working as a coaching assistant from 2017 to 2019.
That connection might carry some weight in Las Vegas, where Brady is now a minority owner with a not-so-quiet influence on the franchise’s direction. Coaches with Patriots ties have long found favor in Brady’s orbit, and Covington fits that mold.
Before his time in the NFL, Covington’s coaching journey took him through the college ranks. He started out as a defensive grad assistant at UAB, then moved on to Ole Miss, where he worked under Hugh Freeze and helped develop a handful of future NFL players - including longtime Steelers slot corner Mike Hilton. From there, he took on defensive line coaching roles at UT Martin and Eastern Illinois, where he also served as co-defensive coordinator.
When he landed with the Patriots in 2017, he began climbing the ladder under Bill Belichick, learning from some of the best defensive minds in the game - Brian Flores, Matt Patricia, Jerod Mayo, and Joe Judge among them. That’s a coaching tree with serious pedigree, and Covington soaked up knowledge at every stop.
After the Patriots cleaned house in 2025 under new leadership from Mike Vrabel, Covington made the jump to Green Bay, joining Matt LaFleur’s staff and working under Jeff Hafley (now head coach of the Dolphins) and respected assistant Derrick Ansley. It’s been a steady rise for a coach who’s seen the game from multiple angles - from the college trenches to NFL meeting rooms, from coaching receivers as a former college wideout to scheming against them as a defensive strategist.
He may not be a marquee name just yet, but Covington checks a lot of boxes for what the Raiders need right now. He’s young but experienced, shaped by some of the league’s sharpest minds, and he’s called plays at the highest level. And in a league where familiarity and trust matter - especially with someone like Brady in the building - his Patriots background could give him an edge.
The Raiders have satisfied the Rooney Rule requirements, which means they’re free to make a hire whenever they’re ready. Whether Covington is the final choice remains to be seen, but he’s clearly in the mix - and he brings a compelling blend of youth, experience, and pedigree that makes him a strong candidate for the job.