Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has continued to try and find ways to fix this Packers defense over his tenure in Green Bay.
The latest move that he made from a coaching perspective involved hiring former New England Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington this offseason.
DeMarcus Covington Brings New Life to Defensive Line for Packers
Despite coming off a very successful 2024 season under former defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich, Green Bay’s defensive line ended the season with a bad taste in their mouths.
It gave up nearly 170 rushing yards to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs, which was the ultimate end for Rebrovich, who was relieved of his duties this offseason.
This move made way for the Packers to hire longtime Patriots defensive assistant DeMarcus Covington to be their new defensive line coach after Covington and the rest of former Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo’s staff in New England were cut loose this offseason.
Former Samford WR DeMarcus Covington was caught off-guard when the idea was floated to him to coach UAB's D-line in 2012.
It quickly became his calling.
"Like how's a guy like me going to coach D-line? So, what do you do as a young guy? You dive in."https://t.co/Rmul5m4l2Q
— Weston Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) June 3, 2025
Anytime you have the opportunity to hire a Bill Belichick disciple to be a defensive position coach, it would be hard not to want that.
That is what LaFleur decided to do, and his decision to hire the former Super Bowl-winning assistant could prove to be huge for this team.
Packers’ Defensive Line Looks to Take Next Step in 2025
No one is disputing the fact that the Packers had a great first season on defense under first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
They finished the 2024 season ranked sixth in total defense (315.6 yards allowed per game) and ranked fourth in turnovers forced (31).
Additionally, their run defense was perhaps the best that it has been with LaFleur as head coach (99.4 yards allowed per game; seventh-best in the league).
But with some room to improve there, as well as it pertains to getting after the quarterback, Covington has a great opportunity to come in and make his mark as a talented, young defensive mind.
No Packers player had more than 7.5 sacks last season, so if Covington can find a way to help players like Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kenny Clark, and others improve their game, that could greatly impact this team’s ceiling this year.
