The decision to replace perhaps the most irreplaceable head coach in pro football history didn’t take long. One day after the press conference in which New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick made public their decision to part ways, the Patriots tabbed Jerod Mayo to be their next head man.
It’s certainly an organizational hire. The Patriots selected Mayo in the first round of the 2008 draft out of Tennessee, and Mayo played linebacker for Belichick’s defenses through the 2015 season. The 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Mayo went to two Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2010.
Once his playing career was over, Mayo became the team’s inside linebackers coach in 2019. He had become a mainstay under Belichick, and there were agreements in place for Mayo to replace Belichick when the time had come.
Mayo, who is 37 years old, takes the title of youngest NFL head coach from Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams, who is a month older.
Per Mark Daniels of Masslive.com, the players were already publicly endorsing Mayo for the job over more high-profile candidates.
“He’d be a coach I want to play for. I’d run through a wall for him,” edge rusher Josh Uche said. “I love players’ coaches. Guys that take it deeper than the X’s and O’s. It’s more personal. You want to go out and do a good job because you know you have someone behind you who’s backing and supporting you. I’m all in on Mayo.”
“Man, he’d be a really great head coach,” defensive tackle Christian Barmore added. “He’d be a funny guy. He understands players. He teaches players. He’s everything a player would want.”
The Patriots are in heavy transition now, but they’re in good shape to take that on. They have the third overall pick in a quarterback-heavy draft and an estimated $56 million in salary cap space for 2024.
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