HEADLINES

Patriots Fire Jerod Mayo

January 5th, 2025 at 11:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots have acted quickly in making a coaching move. Jerod Mayo is out after one season at the helm, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The decision is now official.

“After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025,” a statement from owner Robert Kraft reads in part. “For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. … When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach. … Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped.

“I have given much thought and consideration as to what actions I can take to expedite our return to championship contention and determined this move was the best option at this time.”

The former All-Pro linebacker spent his entire eight-year career with the Patriots, and not long after hanging up his cleats he joined the team’s staff as linebackers coach. Mayo emerged as a staffer often mentioned as a potential heir apparent to Bill Belichick (as a coach, but not as a de facto general manager) and by the end of the latter’s tenure that arrangement was officially in place.

Once Belichick and Kraft parted ways last offseason, Mayo ascended to his first head coaching role at the college or NFL levels. This came due to a contract arrangement, rather than Mayo beating out competition for the job. Kraft clearly grew to regret passing on a true HC search. A year later, a Patriots HC search will be on tap.

Expectations were tempered given the state of the Patriots’ roster heading into the 2024 campaign. Questions were raised about the offensive line and skill positions, among others, but the decision to select quarterback Drake Maye made his development (once inserted into the starting lineup) a central priority. While the No. 3 pick has shown flashes, the team as a whole has not delivered consistent performances. New England entered Week 18 at or near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories, an underwhelming development given the team’s continuity from 2024 on that side of the ball.

As the Patriots’ losses piled up during the year, speculation increased with respect to Mayo’s job security. Last month, indications emerged suggesting Kraft would allow for at least one more season at the helm, but a disappointing late-season performance was named as a possibility which could sway the situation. Indeed, questions have grown louder in recent weeks, and Sunday’s result leaves the Patriots with a record of 4-13. With the pendulum having swung, the latest updates on the matter pointed to another coaching change being made on Kraft’s part this winter. That has now proven to be the path he has taken.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Mayo firing has not been matched with any dismissals in the front office at this point. No assistant coaches have been let go as of now, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated adds. That could of course change in the near future, but for now Eliot Wolf – in place as the Patriots’ top executive since May – is safe as he prepares to oversee the next phase of the team’s rebuild. That will include considerable cap resources and a premium Day 1 draft pick.

The Patriots’ win on Sunday cost them the top selection in April’s draft, but even that end-of-the-year outcome has proven insufficient for Mayo to be retained. The 38-year-old certainly has a long runway in terms of his coaching future, but in the wake of a poor first showing as a head coach it will likely take several years for him to receive his next opportunity in that capacity. Roles as a position coach or defensive coordinator could of course still await him in the future, though.

Kraft will now turn his attention to another head coaching search. Belichick was in place for 24 years, but his departure has now been followed by another after only one campaign. Mike Vrabel has been named as a candidate to watch, although that is the case for many other teams looking for a new coach. It will be interesting to see if another former Patriots player will be tapped for the gig, or if the team will ultimately move in another direction for 2025.

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