Jerod Mayo is moving fast.

According to the NFL Network, the Patriots will interview Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker and Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges for their new defensive coordinator position. Mayo has already been in contact with Panthers linebackers coach and ex-Boston College defensive coordinator Tem Lukabu about the job. It’s unknown when these interviews will take place or Mayo intends to name his defensive coordinator.

Parker, 32, just completed his third season coaching Denver’s secondary. He’s spent most of his career working with defensive backs, starting at Virginia State in 2013, then with the Packers as a defensive quality control coach in 2019-20 before jumping to the Broncos the following year. Under his tutelage, Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II made the 2022 All-Pro team and reached back-to-back Pro Bowls after being drafted in 2021.

Hodges, 37, served as the Saints’ lead linebackers coach the past four years. He started in New Orleans as a low-level defensive assistant in 2017 and received a promotion to assistant linebackers coach in 2019. Earlier in his career, Hodges worked as a co-defensive coordinator with Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington at Eastern Illinois in 2016.

Like Lukabu and Parker, Hodges does not have any experience as an NFL defensive coordinator or coaching the Patriots’ defensive system.

Internally, Covington and defensive play-caller Steve Belichick remain the top candidates to become Mayo’s first defensive coordinator. Covington, 34, has coached linebackers and defensive linemen since joining the Patriots as a defensive assistant in 2017. He took an interview with the Cardinals last year for their defensive coordinator position and has been hailed by Patriots players as a future head coach.

In December, Covington confirmed he aspires to be a head coach one day.

“Obviously that’s on the horizon for me of what I want to do,” Covington said. “I got in this profession to, one, try to impact men. That’s what I try to do. So as we go through this, the steps of being a position coach, coordinator to head coach, obviously wanting to lead a team. That is definitely one of my goals.

“And when that might be, I don’t know. I don’t have my own plan. God has the plans for me. What those plans are, I don’t know.”

Last offseason, Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon offered high praise for Covington when asked at the NFL Combine about their interview.

“His interview was very impressive. I learned a lot,” Gannon said. “And I actually told coach (Bill) Belichick that, after that coach Belichick knows how to coach the coaches because this guy was on it. It was a really cool interview for me.”

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Theoretically, the Patriots could hire assistants like Lukabu, Parker or Hodges to non-coordinator positions if they give them a change in title, or if their current contracts have already expired. During his introductory press conference Wednesday, Mayo split from Belichick when saying he believes titles are significant for coaching staff. The Patriots have not officially named a defensive coordinator since 2017.

“I think titles are important,” Mayo said. “No knock to coach Belichick, who has been a huge mentor to me over the years as a player and as a colleague. What I would say is, I believe titles are important, outward-looking. But as far as in the building, I don’t care what your title is. It’s what’s your job? What value do you bring to the organization? I think that’s the most important thing.”