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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When Robert Kraft chose Jerod Mayo to take over as head coach, he believed he had found a worthy successor to carry on the championship traditions established under Bill Belichick. However, Kraft now recognizes that Mayo was not fully prepared for the demands of an NFL head coach.
On Monday, Kraft admitted that his decision to release Mayo just moments after he wrapped up his first season was an effort to rectify this miscalculation. Kraft expressed his remorse, stating, “This whole situation is on me. I feel terrible for Jerod. Because I put him in an untenable situation.” The Patriots concluded the season with a disappointing record of 4-13.
Kraft acknowledged Mayo’s potential and skills as a coach, suggesting that he simply needed more preparation before stepping into the role. He clarified that the team’s recent victory against Buffalo, which hampered their chances of securing the top pick in April’s NFL draft, did not factor into his decision to part ways with Mayo. Instead, Kraft noted a decline in performance following a promising start, where the team began the season with a win but failed to show consistent progress as the year progressed.
Feeling the weight of witnessing consecutive underwhelming seasons with a franchise that has claimed six Lombardi trophies over more than two decades, the 83-year-old Kraft, identifying himself as a dedicated fan of the team, pledged to make necessary changes to restore the team to its former glory. “I don’t want to go through this next year. And we’re going to do what we’ve got to do to fix it,” Kraft emphasized.
As part of this plan, Kraft intends to swiftly begin the search for a new head coach, which many consider to be a highly desirable position for various reasons. New England has secured a top draft pick at No. 4, rookie Drake Maye is emerging as a potential franchise quarterback, and the team holds over $130 million in salary cap space, the most in the league.
However, Kraft confirmed that there will not be significant shifts in the front office at this stage, as executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith will both return for the upcoming season. Both Wolf and Highsmith will collaborate with Kraft’s son, Jonathan Kraft, who is also the team president, in the coaching search.
Mike Vrabel, a former player for the Patriots and head coach of the Tennessee Titans, quickly emerged as a potential candidate following Mayo’s dismissal. A fan favorite known for his contributions to the Patriots’ early Super Bowl victories, Vrabel previously led the Titans to three playoff appearances before his firing after the 2023 season. Nevertheless, Kraft refrained from confirming whether Vrabel was a top candidate. “I don’t know all the people involved. There are some wonderful people we’ve heard about,” Kraft stated. “I’d rather respond to that after I’ve seen everyone.”
As players cleared out their lockers for the offseason, many expressed shock regarding Mayo’s departure. Defensive tackle Deatrich Wise reflected, “Everybody is upset about his departure. We all respected Jerod Mayo. Held him in high regard. He did a lot for us this year. He was a great leader. Fantastic person and a coach. So, we’re all sad to see him go. Wish we all could have had a chance to say goodbye. Didn’t really see him. It happened so fast.”
Another defensive tackle, Davon Godchaux, commented on the harsh realities of the NFL. He added that more than just a coaching change is essential for the team’s turnaround. “I feel like everybody being accountable. Everybody. Players. Coaches — everybody,” Godchaux stated. “If we can do that, things will start moving forward. Until then, we’ve got a long journey.”
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