Bill Belichick‘s replacement has lasted just one season.
The New England Patriots have fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo after going 4-13 in his first and only season, including a Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills which lost the franchise the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft confirmed the reports of Mayo’s firing in a lengthy statement where he explained the front office will remain intact heading into the offseason.
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New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo calls to his players during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
“After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” Kraft said.
“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 conducted himself in our community. When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evidence, as I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach.”
Kraft went on to say that the move comes as he feels the fans deserve a better product on the field moving forward.
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“Since buying the team, I have always considered myself and my family as custodians of a public asset. We have tremendous fans who expect and deserve a better product than we have delivered in recent years,” Kraft’s statement read. “I apologize for that. I have given much thought and consideration as to what actions I can take to expedite our return to championship contention and determined this move was the best option at this time.”
After a 10-7 season in 2021, the Patriots have been trending in the wrong direction, going 8-9 in 2022 and 4-13 in the past two seasons now.
This season, however, saw a change of guard at head coach for the first time since 2000 as the Patriots and Belichick mutually parted ways after he led a dynasty to six Super Bowl wins alongside Tom Brady.
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo talks with quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
As Kraft points out, Mayo understood the pedigree to be a Patriot as both a player and a coach, leading to the decision to make him Belichick’s replacement as he was already in the building and the players respected him.
But the Patriots also understood that Mayo was inheriting a roster that was among the least strong in the NFL entering the 2024 season, and the projected win total of 4.5 for the year reflected what experts believed would occur in Mayo’s inaugural campaign.
But Kraft and the Patriots seem to feel that the lack of talent on the roster isn’t the only thing that needs to improve heading into the 2025 season later this year.
Mayo did make some interesting headlines throughout the year, including publicly calling his team soft after the team’s sixth straight loss back in October. He also noted the Patriots would “burn some cash” in free agency right after being named head coach, and he had to redact that statement later to say the team would be wise with their cap room.
Mayo did, however, play to win despite quarterback Drake Maye, the team’s No. 3 overall pick in 2024, handing the reins over to his backup, Joe Milton III, who had a breakout game in Week 18.
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo listens to a reporter’s question during a news conference following an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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The Patriots won 23-16 with Milton going 22-for-29 for 241 yards with a touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte, who finished with 117 yards through the air. Milton also rushed for a touchdown himself in the game where the Bills rested most of its starters.
The win, though, lost the Patriots the No. 1 overall pick as the Tennessee Titans assume that position in the NFL Draft. The Patriots will choose fourth overall behind the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants as well.
Looking ahead to the head coach search, Mike Vrabel, the former Patriot and veteran head coach, has already been floated as a potential candidate the Patriots could bring in to replace Mayo.
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