After one tumultuous season, the New England Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo. Mayo, a former player, spent four years as New England’s linebackers coach and de-facto defensive coordinator before becoming head coach.
The #Patriots are moving on from coach Jerod Mayo, as the handpicked successor to Bill Belichick goes one-and-done, per me, @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero.
The Krafts anointed Mayo last year, but a troubling season led them to a change. pic.twitter.com/TWeo2JXNK9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2025
Patriots Fire Jerod Mayo Following Disastrous Season
Following in Bill Belichick’s footsteps was never going to be easy, but owner Robert Kraft believed the team’s former linebacker was up to the task. Reportedly seeing head coach potential in him back in 2019, Kraft believed Jerod Mayo could guide this team to glory when Belichick eventually left New England. After missing the playoffs in three of four seasons without quarterback Tom Brady, the owner fired Belichick and replaced him with the longtime Patriot.
Unfortunately, Mayo could not justify Kraft’s faith. Despite landing a franchise quarterback in first-round pick Drake Maye, New England continued to disappoint and finished the year in the basement of the AFC East. While the team didn’t have the talent to seriously compete for a Super Bowl, abysmal on-field product could not be ignored. After over 20 years of coaching stability, the Patriots now look for their third head coach in as many seasons.
Jerod Mayo originally joined the Patriots as a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Selected by the man he would eventually replace, the Tennessee product made an immediate impact. Starting in all 16 games, Mayo recorded 128 tackles in his first season with the Patriots. His best season came in 2010 when he recorded a league-high 174 tackles and two sacks while making the first Pro Bowl appearance of his career.
Mayo remained the heart of New England’s defense until injuries limited him to just 12 combined games from 2013 to 2014. While he returned to the field in 2015, he played in a reserve role as D’Onta Hightower and Jamie Collins took over as the leaders of the linebacker room.
Main Photo: David Butler II – USA Today Sports
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