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.
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?
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.
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.
If you fire mayo you gotta fire Wolf. No credible coach will accept a job with uncertainty at the top.
No you don’t.
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……
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