Three weeks into rebuilding the coaching staff, the New England Patriots have interviewed more coaches for the defensive coordinator spot than any other. Their latest interview brings the total number to five in that category.
According to SI’s Albert Breer, Pittsburgh Steelers assistant defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander has spoken to the Patriots about the job. Alexander, 39, had a five-year NFL career as a safety before getting into coaching, and has been an NFL coach for four years (the last two with the Steelers) after starting his career at the college level.
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Breer notes that while Alexander is a candidate for the job, he could also be a candidate to join the staff of another defensive coordinator. Specifically, he cites current defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, who interviewed for the job late last week, as the “strong favorite” to be the hire.
Covington has been the lone internal candidate to interview for any of the Patriots’ coordinator jobs. Along with him and Alexander, the Patriots have spoken with Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges, Panthers outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu, and Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker. Parker was also noted by Breer to be a candidate for a positional coaching role.
