The Patriots hired linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to become their next head coach Friday, a source confirmed to the Herald.
Mayo, 37, becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL and the 15th in Patriots franchise history. He recently concluded his fifth season as a coach at any level, having rejoined the organization as an assistant in 2019. Mayo has spent the entirety of his NFL career in New England, where first played from 2008-2015.
According to a source, during a renegotiation of Mayo’s contract last January, the Patriots included a clause that established a succession plan if and when the franchise parted ways with Bill Belichick. That clause allows Mayo to succeed Belichick without the Patriots conducting a full head-coaching search under normal league rules. Belichick and owner Robert Kraft announced a mutual parting of ways Thursday.
Last May, Kraft declared his utmost belief in Mayo at the league’s annual meetings.
“There’s no ceiling on (Mayo’s) ability to be a head coach. And he’ll be a head coach. I’m sure of that,” Kraft said. “I hope he’s with us, so we’ll see what happens.”
Mayo is highly respected inside the Patriots’ building, known as a coach who connects with players, commands the room and is well-regarded for his Xs and Os. He was the fastest-rising assistant ever under Belichick, and the first position coach to be hired without a year of experience coaching in the NFL or major college ranks. In his early years, Mayo developed a strong reputation across the league.
Two NFL executives told the Herald in March 2022 they believed Mayo would soon become a head coach.
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“One hundred percent. He’ll be a head coach,” Denver general manager George Paton told the Herald. “He has a dynamic personality, really bright, really smart, knows what he wants. I think he’s only coached three years, but he really had an interesting, unique perspective about how he’d do things. I really enjoyed the visit.”
“I like him. I like him a lot,” a high-ranking AFC executive added. “And I think he has a lot of good qualities. But these are big, big jobs. So it’s just a matter of time.”
Prior to this season, Mayo interviewed three times for head-coaching positions: with the Eagles in 2021 and Raiders and Broncos in 2022. He declined an interview for Carolina’s head job last year, around the time the Patriots renegotiated his contract. Mayo has long expressed confidence in becoming a head coach one day.
“I feel like I’m prepared. I feel like I’m ready,” Mayo said in January. “I feel like I can talk to men, women, old, young, white, Black — it doesn’t matter. And hopefully develop those people into upstanding citizens and help them evolve. That’s how I think about it. I feel like my calling is to develop.”
Asked about the succession plan in December, Mayo said his focus was on the team’s upcoming game versus the Chiefs, then pivoted to share his feelings about the franchise, fan base and his future.
“I would say that I have a lot of love for New England,” he said. “I have a lot of love for the fans, the people around the building, and my family, they love it here as well. So, that would be great if I could stay here and continue to progress throughout my career, but we’ll see. And honestly, there’s really no anxiety to it. I’m not trying to get too spiritual, but wherever God wants to take me, I’ll be ready to go.”
In January, Mayo also said he coaches “out of love,” meaning he prioritizes his personal relationships with players. Several Patriots veterans, including captain Deatrich Wise, credited Mayo this season for his work with an oft-injured defense that nonetheless finished No. 1 against the run. Mayo did not call plays for the defense, but ran most of the unit meetings as the team prepared for each game.
It’s unknown how much of the Patriots’ coaching staff Mayo will retain. Several assistants have either reached, or will soon reach, the end of their contracts.
The Patriots are also expected to open a search for the next head of their personnel department, a job Belichick also held during his 24-year run as coach.
Candidates with connections to the franchise and/or Mayo include current director of scouting Eliot Wolf, ex-Raiders GM Dave Ziegler, ex-Titans GM Jon Robinson, ex-Lions GM Bob Quinn and Bengals executive Trey Brown.
As a player, Mayo made two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team in eight seasons. He was named the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the team with 128 tackles and later served as a team captain. Mayo won a Super Bowl in 2014, his penultimate season as a player. After retiring from football, he worked briefly for Optum, a health care services company, and appeared on NBC Sports Boston’s weekly Patriots program “Quick Slants.”
Mayo becomes the first Black head coach in Patriots history. The team is expected to formally announce his hiring in a press conference next week.
ESPN first reported Mayo’s hiring.
Source: Berkshire mont