The New England Patriots parted ways with head coach Jerod Mayo shortly after their momentous 23:16 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 of the NFL season. The team announced this on Sunday.
Mayo only took over from coaching legend Bill Belichick as a hand-picked successor at the beginning of 2024, without there having been a coaching search beforehand. Mayo led the Patriots to a 4-13 season and lost the almost certain first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft with the victory over the Bills. Instead, they will now pick at position 4.
Team owner Robert Kraft issued a statement about the dismissal: “After today’s game, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not return as head coach of the New England Patriots in the 2025 season. For me personally, it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to meet Jerod for 17 years. He has my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career on the field, his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducts himself “When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident when I saw how the players responded to him.”
Kraft ended the statement with good wishes to Mayo for the future and apologized to the fans who deserved “a better product than what we have delivered in previous years.”
Patriots fourth team also coach search
The Patriots are the fourth team after the Jets, Saints and Bears to have an open head coaching position for 2025. Even though the search for a successor has obviously not yet begun, rumors have been circulating for weeks about Mike Vrabel returning to New England.
He played for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, won three Super Bowls and most recently coached the Tennessee Titans until 2023. He is considered one of the most sought-after coaches on the market, has already spoken to the Jets and is said to be very interested in the Patriots job.