Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo begins assembling staff, to interview defensive coordinator candidate

' 15th franchise head coach , who has held his new position for less than a week, is getting to work to find assistant coaches for his staff. Mayo is set to interview outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu for the Patriots defensive coordinator position, per . Before he joined the Panthers for the 2023 season, Lukabu was the defensive coordinator for Boston College from 2020 to 2022.

Lukabu's experience includes being a defensive assistant for the from 2012 to 2013, the defensive quality control coach for the from 2016 to 2017 and the linebackers coach in 2019 for the . The Patriots moved on from head coach Bill Belichick last week, who was known for having a strong defensive mind.

While New England struggled this season, their defense was a highlight of the team. A defensive coordinator will come in with big shoes to fill, now that Belichick's skillset with the defense is no longer present. Mayo was a linebackers coach for the Patriots from 2019 to 2023 ahead of his hiring as head coach.

The Panthers had the worst record in the NFL this season at 2 15, landing last in the NFC South. The Patriots had the worst record in the AFC at 4 13 and finished fourth in the AFC East..