DECEMBER 22: In contrast to Breer’s report that “all bets are off” as far as Mayo’s job security is concerned, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network confirms that Kraft wants to keep Mayo and believes the first-year HC is the right long-term leader for the franchise (video link). Rapoport acknowledges that a collapse over the final three games of the season could change Kraft’s thinking, but otherwise Mayo appears to be safe.
Mayo attempted to do some damage control with respect to the perception that he publicly slighted Van Pelt, and per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, multiple veterans have privately offered support for Mayo. Those players note that the locker room remains united, and that the team has been more competitive than its 3-11 record would suggest.
In a public interview, veteran defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. said, “there’s a lot of coaches whose first year isn’t that good and they go on to do great things … [Mayo] always brings high energy, always does a good job coaching guys while critiquing them and motivating them at the same time. Yes, we want to have more wins. That’s obvious. But at the same time, what he is doing I think will work out in the future.”
DECEMBER 16: Jerod Mayo added another loss to his resume yesterday, leading to renewed talks of his job status heading into the offseason. Before yesterday’s ugly outing vs. the Cardinals, Dianna Russini of The Athletic deemed Mayo safe, noting that Robert Kraft has privately committed to the head coach beyond the 2024 campaign.
Russini adds that Kraft is willing to give Mayo the “time and resources” needed to “grow into the role,” a common sentiment among owners with unsuccessful first-year coaches. The team understood that Mayo would have a “steep learning curve,” and things would certainly operate differently after Bill Belichick ran the show for decades. Russini notes that the Patriots organization still believes in Mayo’s coaching prowess, although it sounds like team brass are still waiting for him to find his coaching identity.
A source shared similar sentiments to Josina Anderson, claiming that Mayo wouldn’t be one-and-done in New England. The source preached patience, pointing to Dan Campbell’s 4-19 start in Detroit. The Patriots still have a shot at finishing with the league’s worst record, and the team’s performance over the next few weeks could change the thinking around Mayo, but Anderson’s source was clear that there was “never any consideration” to firing the coach after only one season. Similarly, ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes that it would be a “surprise” if the team suddenly moved on from Mayo (along with executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf).
Riding a three-game losing streak into the bye, the week off seemed to temporarily quiet talks of Mayo’s job status. It only took one game for the hot seat to fire back up, with Albert Breer of SI.com saying today that “all bets are off” following yesterday’s debacle (via Yahoo’s Darren Hartwell). Mayo drew the scrutiny of pundits after seemingly throwing OC Alex Van Pelt under the bus, and those comments may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Breer points to former Titans coach Mike Vrabel as a potential option, noting that ownership may have to get bold if they want to take their “one shot” at the former Patriots star.
Mayo and his squad have shown only brief stretches of success this season. After winning the season opener, the team lost a tight overtime game to the Seahawks in Week 2 (although Mayo drew some criticism for his decision making in that loss). Then, between Week 8 and Week 10, the Patriots won two games and lost another in overtime. Otherwise, the Patriots have barely sniffed a win, and the team’s active four-game losing streak has been especially ugly. With two showdowns against the Bills looming, it could somehow get even uglier, and an embarrassing end to the season could also mark the end of Mayo’s short-lived tenure as Patriots head coach.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Kraft is willing to give Mayo the “time and resources” needed to “grow into the role,”
How much growing can a HC do on the nickel and dime Kraft might be willing to spend?
Wait, he gets the nickel AND the dime? They told me that I had to earn the second one.
Bob Kraft really tried to provide the resources this year. The guy is a walking contradiction.
The team has had a remarkable excess of unspent cap space this year. If that means providing the resources for a winning team I’m confused. The guy can’t even pay market rate for a handy.
Somehow he also paid for masturbatory dynasty documentary to be made in Apple TV.
Idiot.
No free agents wanted to sign with NE. Who could blame them?
That Bill B coaching tree looks more like a snapped twig. In over 20 years of coaching, not one assistant did anything independently? Name another HoF HC with no subordinates to go on to good or great careers. In fact, Bill did nothing w/o Tom throwing it.
100% Tom’s success.
Yep. Also, credit to McDaniels for being one of the best OCs (and worst HCs) since the turn of the century.
He wasn’t a great OC. He lived off Tom, just like Hackett lived off Aaron. They were lucky to ‘work’ with HoF quarterbacks. Without them, both would have been washed out of the league long ago.
So without a starting veteran QB a team will not be good?
Wow crazy?
So if the Bulls did not have Michael Jordan, they would not win? CRAZY!!!!
Again, the logic is incredible.
Did you forget he drafted Tim Tebow in the first round?
That’s nonsense. As great as Tom was, his WRs had some of the most separation per route run in the league year after year. That’s not Tom’s doing. That’s scheming the WRs to their strengths. McDaniels was undoubtedly great because the Patriots took late round and UDFA WRs, saw their strengths, and put them in position to be wide open constantly. If that was so easy, any OC could do it.
Mike Tomlin has no tree
Good point, but he also has no losing seasons w/ plenty of decent Qb’s starting.
The hate for BB is insane.
He is coaching in College now, LET IT GO.
You are not Tom Brady’s PR team, he has one and you are unnecessary.
People were really hurt by BB and the Patriots and I do not think they will ever get over it.
How many rings does he have?
Is it 6?
Tomlin is 8-10 in the playoffs which pretty much says it all
If it was 100% Tom’s success with BB just being dragged along for the ride, why did Brady repeatedly accept team friendly deals? Any other QB would have insisted on being the top paid QB in the league. The reality is that Tom was aware no other HC could give him the tools to be successful that BB provided.
The reality is that Tom left NE because that roster was awful up there, and they went to a very well-built one in Tampa.
It’s also telling that during the last offseason and the upcoming offseason, not a single team wanted to speak with him. That’s a powerful statement.
So BB did not talk to Atlanta last off season?
Also how do you have information that BB and his agent has? Just curious how you know everything you claim is true?
Citations???? Or is this just personal?
‘Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is “very surprised” he hasn’t heard from an NFL team regarding a coaching job, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has reported.’.
Google him humbled. As for Atlanta, they went in a different direction for some reason.
Jon Robinson took Tennessee to the playoffs three times after inheriting a 3-13 team when he took over in 2016. He didn’t have a losing season in all that time.
If you fire mayo you gotta fire Wolf. No credible coach will accept a job with uncertainty at the top.
No you don’t.
Yes you do
Wolf didn’t pick Mayo and you can’t fire the guy who did (the owner).
There should be a restriction on articles about job status for Jerod Mayo, Brian Callahan, Dave Canales, Mike Macdonald, and Antonio Pierce.
They should not be on a hot seat until at least year three……
No shot Pierce makes year 3, full season that is.
Pierce isn’t going to sniff year 2
You’re probably right about Mayo, Callahan, and Canales, but Pierce might not make it this year.
I don’t see MacDonald as being on a hot seat, though. I think Mayo’s issue is not that he’s losing, but some of the bone headed decision making and blame shifting that he’s done. Remember the “better player” comments about Brissett and Maye earlier this year? I don’t think that he’s sitting on a heated chair just yet, because he was set up and chosen by Kraft, but his decision making has been questionable overall this year. We haven’t exactly seen the upside yet, either.
Pierce unfortunately has a few of these similarities, but is in his second year (kind of) without having a handpicked ascension story that Mayo does to protect him.
Well Kraft is going to have shell out a boatload of money to get FA to sign for this clown show we have now
No big name FA will sign here after all the stuff Mayo has said and don’t forget the stuff guys like KJ,Jacoby and now KB or how horrible all (-1) the draft picks look this yr most don’t even look like they should even be in this league
We? Kraft’s making millions and so are the players. Why would they care?
There’s an elephant in the room.
Mayo throws the OC under the bus, but look what he’s done to the defense. It’s even worse.
Imo if the goal/guarantee is they get Vrabel then I can see them getting rid of Mayo. Otherwise the Pats are just setting themselves back another year by firing Mayo and bringing in another, presumably, rookie HC. Unless there’s some deep underlying issues that suggest Mayo is about to lose the locker room, I don’t really see how you can blame the team’s performance on him enough to warrant firing him after one season. Yeah they’ve looked bad during the season but that’s because they’re not a talented team.
The roster is pretty devoid of high end talent across the board with maybe Christian Gonzalez being the only stud/near stud player?. O-line is a work in progress, Stevenson/Gibson are solid if unspectacular RBs, the receiving corps is too young with no alpha for the defense to gameplan for, and the defense is meh. Add on a rookie QB…I don’t know what was realistically expected. Maye being the Week 1 starter doesn’t magically turn this team into a playoff contender, he’s been better and looked more poised than probably most people expected, but the team doesn’t magically cobble together another 4-5 wins this season because Maye started Week 1.
the talent is bad admittedly, but the sheer number of stupid penalties and undisiplined play is on the coaching. The O line just seems like they have no idea what they are supposed to do from one play to another. The receiving group all seem to congregate in the same area of the field on many passing plays, and the total lack of development of the your WRs can only be tied to poor coaching and scheme. Mayo should have had a seasoned former HC at his side the entire time, he is in way over his head right now and despite what is being said to the public he seems to have lost the locker room.
No coach in the universe would have been able to turn around this Patriots team, the least talented roster in the league. It should be considered a blessing to Mr. Kraft that they are not the very worst.
Why?
Patriots are in an incredibly positive draft position. At least 5 teams need QBs, Travis Hunter will be coming out.
Patriots finish 1 or 2, they can ask for whatever they want, especially if it is Sanders and Deon is really considering moving to the Pros.
How much would Las Vegas, Dallas or NY Giants give up to get Shadeur and Deon together? I would bet Hershel Walker type deal.
Patriots rebuild was going to be hard and long. People need to have patience. Deon is going to help the Patriots rebuild and I thank him for it in advance.
Just as a reminder, Celtics 1st rebuild with Pierce, KG and Allen took 10 years to get the assets. Celtics current rebuild took over 12 years from trades to the Nets till they really had a chance to win it in the bubble.
Honestly how many people expected the Pats to compete this year? How about getting 5 wins this year? It was a terrible situation and the start of a full rebuild. Just give him time unless the whole org thinks he’s an idiot
New England finishes with Buffalo away, Los Angeles Chargers home (Week 17), Buffalo home (Week 18). And the first Buffalo game just got moved into the doubleheader slot for the Sunday before Xmas.
Given the Patriots’ poor strength of schedule, they’re in line for the #1 Draft pick should the Raiders and/or Giants suddenly start winning.
Let’s the honest the Raiders won’t score more than 10 a game going forward so I have them locked in at first pick. Pats will probably go around 4 or 5 in draft and can get a good oline or WR, and if Kraft doesn’t wanna be cheap can buy a WR and make the offense more consistent
Strength of schedule is the first and principal tie-breaker for Draft position. Coming out of Monday night, LVR and NYG are both 2-12 with SoS over .500. NWE is one of five teams at 3-11 — those 5 each have SoS under .500. And NWE has the worst SoS among that group of 5.
Still a very strong chance New England finishes at #1 in the Tankathon.
Like most here, I have zero access to inside information. Those here who speak of “lost locker rooms”, or claim to know what the Krafts are planning for this upcoming off-season are embittered by disappointment, talking out of their backsides, or parroting something they heard a self-assured talkshow host, opinion writer, or aggressively self-righteous and opinionated call-in listener share on the radio.
Yeah, I’ve seen the same stories about how Mayo throws players and coaches under the bus, how Player X blasted the play calling, how Player Y was a bad signing, and how “such-and-such NFL insider says…”, but sports journalism operates more within the entertainment sphere than the news business.
Far more of what we read and hear is opinion than facts. “Pats Fire First Year Head Coach Mayo” is a fact. “Insiders Say Mayo May Be On Chopping Block” is an opinion. In most cases, we have little to no information on the reliability of the writer or his source.
The Krafts own a football team. A football team is a business – a business with hundreds of millions of dollars in obligations and expenses. When the business is successful the owners make money. When the team succeeds, more tickets, and more merchandise and more overpriced beer, nachos and hot dogs are sold; more of the expenses are covered.
Those who say “Mayo is a rookie HC, and it’s only natural to expect errors, large and small, to be made throughout the season are 100% correct.
Those who say “Roster construction for the 2024 squad has proven to be inadequate, and many of the most glaring problems were evident before the season even began” are 100% correct.
“This is Bill’s fault.” That’s horsehooey. The “last guy” is an easy target. 2024 has nothing to do with what Bill, or Tom, or Jules, or Gronk, or Randy Vataha did.
Like any other employees, the Patriots executives, players and coaches need to be judged; not entirely on production, but certainly on professional growth. Were errors made early on addressed, or were the same mistakes made again. Did players improve, or regress? Were effective adjustments made, or did the personnel double down on unsuccessful systems?
Every employee deserves time to fail, but were they learning and improving, or were they persistently demonstrating a stubborn unwillingness to adapt? Individual players can and will regress, but regression across the board falls on the systems and the coaches.
Robert Kraft can love Mayo as a son, but he has to honestly answer important questions about his capacity for growth. The same questions apply to the coaches, the GM, the scouts and the roster.
Those of us out here in the commentariat will know how the Krafts have answered these questions when we read about events, not opinions.
One more thing. Pretty please.
Can we stop rehashing this utterly discredited narrative that Bill Belichick was a crap coach who lucked into a Hall of Fame QB?
A hallmark of Belichick’s Patriots teams were Top 10, and frequently Top 5 defenses and special teams.
To the best of my recollection, Tom Brady never checked in for a defensive series, or served as gunner on a punt return.
Bill Belichick was, is, and will always be, one of the very best coaches in NFL history. His effectiveness waned with overfamiliarity and complacency.
Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season.
Vince Lombardi never had a losing season, not in Green Bay, not even with the Washington Redskins.
Bill Belichick had a losing record in Cleveland, a losing record in Foxboro pre-Brady, and a losing record in Foxboro post-Brady.
As well, Tomlin and Lombardi were never accused of cheating or spying.
It isn’t just the W-L record. Mayo is absolutely clueless as a HC. Totally unqualified for the position. And yet, he’s safe. And in the 1% chance he is dumped, “protocol” will demand he be replaced with another black coach.
Give Mayo a couple of more years. He didn’t exactly inherit an up and coming team.
It’s sad but I don’t think Kraft let’s Mayo go. What a joke this has all turned out to be, from the HC to the Coordinators through the players! This team became a joke overnight while vilifying the HC that brought so much winning.
Mayo only knows the way to speak to these softer players (nowadays). Players aren’t accountable and/or act irresponsible quite a bit of the time. So tiptoeing around their fragile egos has become more important than holding their feet to the fire (when they’re making millions to play a game).
Sad state the NFL is in.
The Patriots fell apart in 2023 — a story the sportsball media couldn’t fathom. Confirmation came when the home game vs. Kansas City got flexed out of Monday Night Football.
Mayo was the wrong choice and instead of acknowledging it and doing what’s right for the franchise Kraft will parade him around next season. Kraft already made a bad business move by hiring someone without any experience, someone who hasn’t earned the right to HC honestly, and now he’s doubling down for another season of sub par play calling and lackluster play (starts at the top and the example is already set)..
This is what fans are paying for, an embarrassing team that can’t even get on the same page for games. We’re back to the lackluster days of the 80’s and 90’s where we found ourselves sucking wind and being laughed at like we’re the Cardinals (who can’t do anything with any of the great players they’ve had because their front office/ownership (Bidwells) are a complete joke and always has been.
Those “lackluster days” when New England was mostly competitive? Including 7 playoff teams and 2 Super Bowl appearances?
“Fans” really do have a selective memory.
What a joke. Mayo is in way over his head. The defense is porous. The offensive coordinator is clueless. Kraft is too cheap to hire good coaches and players.
Put real money and commitment to the team or sell.
It was all Brady. The “Patriot Way” was a joke.
Lifelong fan who is shocked at the lack of a plan post Brady.
link to x.com
“Im not going to talk about specific players….but boutte sucks”
It’s hard to believe that anyone outside of Patriot’s front office would speculate on Mayo’s job security. I would doubt that he hasn’t made a single decision regarding the teams manning and trades and signing. He inherited a really really bad team, and presided over the sale of any decent leftover players, and has somehow managed to keep the team’s spirits high, and pull off a few upset wins.
He deserves a raise, not the inane BS y’all are spewing. And even after the draft, and the new season starts, the Pats will still have one of the weakest position player