Meet Patriots assistant DeMarcus Covington, one of the brightest coaches in NFL

FOXBOROUGH Kim Dameron was surrounded by future NFL coaches.

In 1996, he was hired to coach cornerbacks at the University of Cincinnati. That staff under Rick Minter was loaded. It had future Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in charge of special teams. The defensive coordinator was future NFL head coach Rex Ryan. Future NFL defensive coordinator Don Wink Martindale was the special teams/linebackers coach.

Eighteen years before Dameron became the head coach at Eastern Illinois, he knew what a great coach looked like. Thats why it didnt take him long to see that potential future in his young assistant DeMarcus Covington DeMarcus Covington.

Ive worked with some pretty good coaches, guys who went on to be head coaches and I look at DeMarcus as being just like those guys, Dameron said. The skys the limit. Enter your email address here to receive MassLive’s Patriots newsletter every Monday and Friday.
      

Covington never hid his intentions. He always wanted more. He was 27 when he was hired as Eastern Illinois co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach in 2016. That year led to a life-changing connection.

One day on campus, then-Patriots linebacker coach Brian Flores came to scout Kamu Grugier-Hill, who the team drafted. Covington was a young, passionate coach. He wanted to be in Flores shoes, so he approached him.

I asked him how do I get in the league? How does a guy like me get in the league like you? Covington said. I made a connection there.

Dameron knew what he had with Covington, who came from UT-Martin. He was smart, passionate and personable. He was easy to talk to and players enjoyed being coached by him. Covington spent one year there before accepting a job as the outside linebackers coach at UT-Chattanooga. He was only there for a matter of months.

Before Dameron knew it, he heard through the coaching grapevine that Covington was headed to the NFL.

He was a good young coach on his way up and you could tell he had a great work ethic and personality, Dameron said. Hes one of the best young ones that I was ever able to work with. You dont get to keep those guys very long.

Then I find out that while he was at Chattanooga, coach (Bill) Belichick came down to see one of the players there. And somebody had already said to him, hey, you need to meet this guy, DeMarcus Covington, and see if hes one of our kind of guys. DeMarcus went up and interviewed and the rest is history.

Five years later, the Patriots defensive line coach still isnt hiding his intentions. He wants more. Next on his goal sheet, is defensive coordinator and then head coach. At 33-years-old, Covington is one of the brightest coaching prospects in the NFL.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and New England Patriots defensive line coach Demarcus Covington look over notes during a game against the Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2021, at Gillette Stadium. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A perfect fit for the Patriots

Belichick didnt forget what Flores told him. When he arrived at Chattanooga, his plan was to workout defensive lineman Keionta Davis and meet the young assistant he heard about.

Covington never coached a game at Chattanooga. Shortly after their meeting, he interviewed with the Patriots and Belichick offered him a job. In the spring of 2017, he joined the organization as a coaching assistant.

Bill introduced himself to me at Chattanooga and we built a connection there, Covington said.

The fit in New England was perfect.

A Birmingham, Alabama, native, Covington played wide receiver for Samford from 2007-to-2010. He loved the game. He loved playing football. He loved teaching. He grew into a leadership role with the Bulldogs. Covington enjoyed the process of helping younger teammates learn and get them ready to play on Saturdays.

Covington possessed the grind needed to make it as an assistant in the NFL. He loved the work and thats important in the Patriots environment. Its about dedicating yourself to the small details that go unnoticed by the outside world. Its what he calls the process. Its those days in-between games. This is where Covington earns his keep, connecting with players, teaching and setting them up for success

You think about the amount of games that we play to the amount of times that we practice. As a coach, a player, you have to enjoy the process, enjoy the preparation, Covington said. 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.

For assistant coaches, days off feel like a rarity during the fall. After a Sunday, they review the game film with players on Monday. When players get Tuesday off, assistants are starting their preparation for the next opponent. By Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, they put their players to work before cleaning things up one more time on Saturday.

There are positional meetings. Defensive meetings. Team meetings. Of course, there are the practices. Theres film studies and more film. Covington dives in with everything he has to put his defensive linemen in the right position to succeed. He also contributes to the entire defensive coaching staff when it comes to game planning.

Its not an easy job, but his efforts dont go unnoticed.

Coach Covington, hes taught me a lot, Patriots linebacker coach Jerod Mayo said. Hes climbed the ranks so hes seen it all from drawing cards to running a room. Hes one of those guys that really tries to gain the heart, the mind and the soul of the players. I think all the guys respect him. Hes also played on the offensive side of the ball so he knows a lot about that as well. Definitely a huge resource for this team.

Patriots linebacker coach and defensive play caller Steve Belichick agreed.

I love working with DC, Belichick said. Hes a really passionate coach. Hes got great energy. Hes really smart in his schemes. He understands the back end really well.

Were a tight group. We all have input. We call ourselves football coaches. We dont call ourselves linebacker coaches or D-line coaches. Were football coaches and were all trying to learn and get better. Theres a lot of good and constructive conversations that we have in there Hes eager to learn. I love working with him. Close friend in the building as well as off the field. I love working with DC. He brings a lot to our staff.

Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington is pictured wearing a sweatshirt supporting Trent Browns' foundation, TB77.Courtesy of the New England Patriots A special relationship with Patriots players

Its not all about Xs and Os. Covington knows football. Hes smart. Hes impressed his fellow coaches and Patriots alike. What separates him is his ability to connect on a different level with his players.

That goes beyond football.

Covington supports Patriots players outside of Gillette Stadium. Over the years, hes been seen walking into NFL stadiums wearing clothing that supports different Patriots players foundations. Hes been photographed wearing sweatshirts from the foundations created by Deatrich Wise, Lawrence Guy, Trent Brown, Kendrick Bourne and others.

During the NFLs My Cause, My Cleats campaign, Covington had custom shoes that supported the foundations for Wise (WISEUP), Guy (Lawrence Guy Family Foundation), Davon Godchaux (Chauxdown), Christian Barmore (Bemore Begreat), Carl Davis (Trenchwork) and Josh Uche (Josh Uche Foundation) to go with his own (Next Level).

He definitely supports us in anything we have going on, Wise said. He kind of makes the D-line room like a mini-family. If Carl has something going on, Davon or anybody, any news in the family, hes always the first to congratulate you, pray for you and be there.

For me personally, I always talk about capturing the hearts and the minds of the players and then theyll be able to play for you, Covington added. Through that you build a relationsip with them and then give them knowledge in the game that can help them take them to the next level and then youll gain that respect from players.

Covington says its important that he remains himself. Hes strong in his convictions and transparent with his teachings. Its about applying the knowledge he has and giving it to his players. He knows if helps them out and helps him improve, theyll listen. At this level, its hard to fake it. Players will notice.

Covington is well respected and players say he makes a difference.

Hes a great coach, Wise said. He also takes the time to help us out with the things we really need in order for us to be the most successful, the most ready. He pretty much helps us out with breaking down what we need to watch whats a good game to watch. He hits us with the technique. He gives us motivation on the field. Hes a great coach to have.

Hes a great, great coach, Godchaux added. He knows what hes talking about not just a coach who lives off coaching for the Patriots. He knows what hes talking about. Its been great having him. Hes been a huge part of my success and my upcoming success in this defense. Its great to have him around.

New England Patriots outside linebackers coach DeMarcus Covington watches the team warm up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)AP Covington is a future NFL head coach

This past May, Covington got a taste.

At its spring league meeting in Atlanta, the NFL its inaugural Coach and Front Office Accelerator program. This brought together 60 diverse head coach and general manager prospects from each team to meet with all 32 owners.

Covington represented he Patriots, joining Patriots pro scouting director Steve Cargile.

It was good. I was blessed to have the opportunity to go down there and be amongst GMs and owners. Also, for this organization to think of me like that to be among the future head coaches, which is what I want to be a DC to head coach, Covington said. For me, it was good. I got to learn a lot of things, meet a lot of people and got to see from the eyes of a GM, eyes of a coach and eyes of an owner and be able to learn a lot of things that can help me in the future.

Covington knows itll take some time to get there, but he is getting noticed. In November, the NFL Networks Tom Pellissero published his annual future head coach list. At age 33, Covington was listed in the NFL coaches to watch in future years section.

He was promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2019. Hes been coaching defensive tackles since 2020. Those positions have also excelled under his leadership. In 2019, Jamie Collins (9.5 sacks) and Kyle Van Noy (6.5 sacks) posted career-high numbers. This season, the Patriots are one of the best teams in the NFL against the run ranked 12th in yards per game (111.3) and tenth in yards per carry (4.23).

DeMarcus does a really good job, Belichick said last month. …Hes coached linebackers, coached defensive line, really understands the entire defense. Im sure he could coach a lot of positions on defense. Young guy thats really smart, works hard… Hes very well-versed in the fundamentals and schemes. He does a good job. Really glad we have him.

Covingtons aspirations arent a surprise to anyone who works with him. Hes a coach with a bright future. People see it.

The mans got the wisdom. He has the mentality and he knows a lot, Christian Barmore said. Hes really a smart coach. I think he does have a chance to be a head coach one day.

If thats something he really wants to do, I can definitely see him doing that, Wise added. Hes the type of guy that can command a room. Hes also the type of guy that can also bring people to the side and help them. Hes phenomenal.

DeMarcus Covington wants more. Its likely only a matter of time before he gets it.