The New England Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday night, just one season after touting him as the successor to the great Invoice Belichick.
Mayo’s firing came after New England’s 23-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills on the final day of the regular season, with the Patriots finishing 4-13 in their third straight losing season.
“After today’s game, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025,” owner Robert Kraft said in a statement.
“For me personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership. in the locker room and the way he carried himself in our community.
“When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident as I saw how the players responded to him.
“When other teams started asking to interview him, I was afraid of losing him and committed to making him our next head coach. Winning our first road game of the season in Cincinnati only strengthened my beliefs.
“Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season was not as expected.”
Mayo previously spent eight seasons with the Patriots as a player, during which he won the Tremendous Bowl during the 2014 season.
He finally returned in 2019 to join Belichick’s staff as inside linebackers coach, establishing himself as one of the most respected defensive minds in football.
His popularity saw him emerge as a leading candidate to replace Belichick when his time in Foxboro came to an end. That moment came after a 4-13 record in 2023 when the Patriots moved on from Belichick after six wins in nine Tremendous Bowls and 24 seasons at the helm.
At age 37, he began the season as the NFL’s second-youngest head coach behind Seattle’s Mike Macdonald.
“I am grateful for Jerod’s many contributions to the New England Patriots throughout his career and will always support his success,” Kraft added.
“I appreciate all of his hard work and hope the experiences gained will help him in the future as I still believe he will be a successful head coach in this league. “I wish Jerod and his family nothing but success in the future.”
A grueling season included encouraging signs from rookie quarterback Drake Maye, whose performances should allow the Patriots to prioritize other positions in the NFL Draft if they choose.
New England began the campaign with a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, before losing six straight, including a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, after which Mayo divided critics by suggesting his team played “soft.”
The Patriots responded with two wins in their next three against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, either side of an overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans, before suffering another six-game losing streak, including a 40-7 loss. against the Los Angeles Chargers in late December.
Mayo’s departure comes at a time when Mike Vrabel’s name has re-entered the pool of league head coaching candidates, as the former Tennessee Titans head coach won three Tremendous Bowls during his time as a player in New England.
