FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In a significant move, the New England Patriots parted ways with head coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday after just one season, marking yet another rebuilding phase for the organization following the departure of long-standing coach Bill Belichick last year.
Owner Robert Kraft made the announcement shortly after the Patriots capped off their disappointing 4-13 season with a narrow 23-16 victory against the Buffalo Bills. Kraft expressed the difficulty of his decision, stating, “After the game, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots for the 2025 season. Personally, this was one of the hardest choices I have ever made. Unfortunately, the performance of our team throughout the season did not improve as I had hoped.”
Kraft is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to discuss the situation further.
Mayo, a former linebacker for the Patriots who had served as an assistant under Belichick, began the season with high praise from Kraft. However, alongside a coaching staff that included offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and first-time defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, he struggled to maximize the potential of a young roster, which notably featured rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
The Patriots commenced their season with a win against Cincinnati but quickly fell into a troubling six-game losing streak. They subsequently managed to win two out of three games before concluding the season with a disheartening record of one win and six losses, marking the third consecutive year they missed the playoffs. Belichick himself recorded a 4-13 record in his final season as coach, wrapping up a remarkable 24-year tenure that boasted six Super Bowl championships.
Mayo, who enjoyed an eight-season playing career with New England, was part of the team that won a Super Bowl in the 2014 season. After retiring, he transitioned into a corporate career in 2015 but returned to the football scene in 2019 to work under Belichick. He built a solid reputation primarily as the linebackers coach, which led to his rise in coaching circles; he even declined several head coaching interviews after the 2022 season, opting instead to extend his stay with the Patriots.
Following Belichick’s departure, the Patriots appointed Mayo as the franchise’s first Black head coach. At just 37, he became the NFL’s second-youngest head coach, only behind Seattle’s Mike Macdonald. From the outset of his tenure, Mayo sought to foster a different culture than Belichick’s intensely focused approach, a strategy that garnered admiration from his players.
Unfortunately, this culture shift did not lead to improved performance on the field, as the Patriots finished near the bottom of the league in both offensive and defensive rankings, posting a disappointing record of 3-6 in closely contested matches.
Kraft may now consider hiring another former Patriots linebacker, Mike Vrabel, who recently ended his tenure with the Tennessee Titans after leading them to three playoff appearances in six years. Vrabel was instrumental in the Patriots’ initial three Super Bowl victories during his eight years with the team.
Before Mayo’s dismissal, several players spoke positively about his contributions this season. Cornerback Jonathan Jones commended his consistency, noting, “The effort from the guys today displayed how he motivates us to fight regardless of the situation.” Meanwhile, veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett remarked on the difficulty of uniting under a new coaching staff, stating, “This is the first year for the head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and general manager. People often overlook these challenges. Good things take time. It’s not like Rome was built in a day. Patience is a word that many are hesitant to embrace.”
Yet, Kraft’s decision indicates he may not share the same level of patience with Mayo, whom he first identified as a confident leader shortly after selecting him 10th overall from Tennessee in 2008. “I remember him coming up to me and saying, ‘Kraft and Mayo, they go together pretty well,’” Kraft recalled during Mayo’s introductory press conference last January. “Sixteen years later, here we are.”
When Mayo returned to the Patriots in 2019, Kraft observed a more adept leader who continued to form strong bonds with players. Their relationship deepened during a trip to Israel that year, leading Kraft to predict that Mayo was suited to be the next head coach of the franchise, a sentiment he compared to the decision he made to hire Belichick, which once drew skepticism.
Despite these high hopes, the partnership did not flourish as envisioned, and at 83 years old, Kraft will now embark on another quest to find a coach capable of revitalizing the Patriots and restoring the team to its former glory.
