Jerod Mayo to interview two candidates for the team's vacant defensive coordinator position
The New England Patriots are interviewing Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker and Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges for their vacant defensive coordinator job, per NFL Network.
These are the second and third known interviews for the Patriots, with the first one being Panthers outside linebacker coach Tem Lukabu.
Parker, 32, would be another young addition to the Patriots staff. His coaching career began at Virginia State University in 2013 as their defensive back coach. Parker made college stops at Norfolk State, William & Mary, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M before landing in the NFL with the Packers in 2019.
In one season with Green Bay he had the role of defensive quality control coach. He assisted with looking at film and scouting. After that, he landed his current position with the Broncos. Given, all his stops he has familiarity with multiple defensive systems.
Long time defensive coach Vance Joseph was very complementary of Parker last June.
“[I’ve been] speaking with Christian every day and bouncing ideas off him from what he’s done with Vic [Fangio] and guys in the past has been fun. [We’re] making changes and growing off what they did last year. He’s smart, he works his butt off and his players love playing for him. He’s a star.”
Hodges, 37, previously coached at Fresno State and Eastern Illinois before landing in New Orleans in 2019 as an assistant linebacker coach. He got promoted one season later.
The linebacker core of the Saints have had two standouts in Demario Davis and Kwon Alexander. Under Hodges, both linebackers have made all-pro teams.
In January 2023, Davis praised Hodges on the work he has done with New Orleans. Not only for coaching, but how he as connected with his group of players.
“There’s only good things that you can say about the linebacker room, and you start with Coach Hodges,” Davis said. “He did a phenomenal job this year, coaching a group of diverse individuals — all of us come from different backgrounds with different skillsets — and being able to have a personal relationship with each of us and being able to bring the best out of all of us.”
The Patriots could always promote within, but it is clear an extensive search is underway to find the right defensive coordinator. There is always a possibility Mayo hires multiple people for other roles as he builds out his own coaching staff.
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