The Patriots and new head coach Jerod Mayo are interviewing Panthers linebackers coach Tem Lukabu for his or her defensive coordinator place, the NFL Network reported Monday.
Lukabu, 42, simply accomplished his first season in Carolina and beforehand served because the defensive coordinator at Boston College from 2020-22. Lukabu has spent most of his profession teaching linebackers — together with one season because the Bengals’ linebackers coach in 2019 — however he’s additionally labored with defensive backs and defensive linemen. His resume contains 4 years underneath Bill Belichick confidant Greg Schiano, each at Rutgers and with the Buccaneers, giving him some overlap with Mayo; as a fellow ex-college linebacker who’s coached related methods and schemes.
Lukabu’s interview signifies the Patriots intend to call a defensive coordinator for the primary time since 2017. His interview would additionally fulfill league guidelines mandating groups meet with one exterior, minority candidate for coordinator positions. Aside from his single seasons in Carolina and Cincinnati, Lukabu’s solely different NFL expertise consists of two years as a defensive high quality management coach in San Francisco from 2016-17.
If Mayo expects to lose defensive assistants to different groups within the coming weeks, it’s doable these interviews may permit him to recruit potential place coaches. Last 12 months, the Patriots interviewed Adrian Klemm for his or her offensive coordinator place earlier than in the end hiring Bill O’Brien for that job and later Klemm as their offensive line coach.
Earlier Monday, Sports Illustrated reported Mayo has already prolonged provides to defensive play-caller/linebackers coach Steve Belichick and safeties coach Brian Belichick to stay in New England. It’s unknown whether or not both or each of Bill Belichick’s sons will observe their father to a different crew, ought to Bill Belichick settle for a head-coaching job within the coming weeks.
Steve Belichick and line of defense coach DeMarcus Covington are the highest inner candidates to develop into the Patriots’ subsequent defensive coordinator, ought to both or each of them select to remain.
Source: www.bostonherald.com