Tag: Mayo

Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo shakes hands with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott after a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Patriots fire coach Jerod Mayo after one disappointing season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday shortly after the team completed a 4-13 season.

Mayo, 38, was in his first season on the job after replacing legendary Bill Belichick after last season.

The move was made after the Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 23-16 to halt a six-game losing streak.

“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,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.

“I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community. When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident, as I saw how the players responded to him. …

“Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped.”

The Patriots defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Mayo’s debut and then dropped their next six games. New England won two of its next three games before the second six-game skid that ended with a 40-7 beatdown by the visiting Los Angeles Chargers.

New England, which won six Super Bowl titles under Belichick, missed the playoffs for the third straight season. The Patriots haven’t won a playoff game since winning the Super Bowl following the 2018 season.

“We have tremendous fans who expect and deserve a better product than we have delivered in recent years,” Kraft said. “I apologize for that. 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.”

Mayo was a linebackers coach with the Patriots from 2019-23 before being promoted to the head coaching gig. He also was a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker for New England and racked up 802 tackles, 11 sacks and three interceptions in 103 regular-season games from 2008-15.

One available coach who should interest the Patriots is Mike Vrabel, who recorded a 54-45 record in six seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 2018-23. He guided the Titans to three playoff appearances, including a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 season’s AFC title game.

Vrabel, 49, also played for the Patriots from 2001-08 and earned three Super Bowl rings.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo watches from the sideline as they take on the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Pats’ Jerod Mayo not focused on No. 1 pick: ‘We need to play football’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots face an interesting dilemma as they prepare for Sunday’s season finale.

Lose at home to the Buffalo Bills, and the Patriots (3-13) secure the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.

On paper, that would seem almost a certainty. New England is riding a six-game losing streak, with last Saturday’s 40-7 rout at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers the new low-water mark in coach Jerod Mayo’s first season.

The issue is that Buffalo (13-3) is locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and may rest many of its stars with nothing to gain from winning on Sunday.

Mayo said the Patriots are “100 percent focused on beating the Buffalo Bills,” and that securing the No. 1 draft pick isn’t his priority. So, if rookie quarterback Drake Maye and other key personnel are healthy, he expects his team to take the field with the intent of closing out the season with a victory.

“That’s what we have to do,” Mayo said on Monday. “My expectation is if the guys are healthy, then they’re expected to be ready to go out there and play. Again, we’ll have to see how the week goes. I understand the question. The guys are working hard and we need to play football.”

Mayo said he knew his first season at the helm in New England would be a challenge, but also pointed to the eight one-score games the Patriots have lost.

Pass rusher Keion White is among multiple players who have questioned the team’s direction under the current coaching staff, but Mayo said he believes his team has continued to play hard — it’s just a lack of execution that continues to hold the Patriots back.

“It seems like we’ve been in the storm for a long time. I think the players as a whole, I would say they’ve come into work every day during a difficult season. I think that’s been a huge piece of the puzzle,” Mayo said. “Hopefully we can keep that going forward. We had eight one-score games this year. We just got to, honestly, we have to win those games. That’s what the NFL is. That’s going to be the goal going forward.”

Asked whether he has been assured by owner Robert Kraft that he will return for a second season, Mayo did not address the question directly.

“I’m always in constant communication with ownership, and I feel like we’re still on the same page,” he said.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo call a play during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

No Victory Mondays: Patriots turn page, not hiding run-first plan

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Run the ball and stop the run, those are the foundation stones for the New England Patriots in 2024.

Head coach Jerod Mayo credited his maligned front for setting a tone for toughness that carried the Patriots to a 1-0 start in a 16-10 victory over the Bengals in Cincinnati.

“I’ve been saying it for a long time, I think the whole offensive line conversation has been overblown,” Mayo said Monday. “They did that (Sunday). I’m not really too concerned with the offensive line.”

Mayo echoed the sentiment from players on Sunday who said the difficult training camp helped impact the outcome of the game. Rhamondre Stevenson carried 25 times for 120 yards and a touchdown to help make the ball-control approach effective.

“We’re a game plan team overall. One thing (GM) Eliot (Wolf) and I agree on: Rhamondre is a very special back,” Mayo said. “He may not get all the publicity and things like that, but this a guy that can run the ball, fall forward 4 yards every single play, catch the ball out of the backfield. A very smart football player. You want to get the ball in the hands of your best players, and I would say Rhamondre is one of them.”

The Patriots enjoyed the flight back to Foxborough on Sunday night but Mayo made sure to emphasize competition starts over on Monday.

In Week 2, New England hosts the Seattle Seahawks (1-0) and another rookie head coach — Mike Macdonald — who similarly believes in leaning into a traditional offense built around the running game.

“It’s one game,” Mayo said of his message to the team and coaches, noting he did not give players a customary day off for “Victory Monday.”

“We won one game. We could easily be here next week, if we don’t go out and execute … win, lose or draw, we’ll wrap the game up the day after and move forward,” he said.

Kenneth Walker III had 103 rushing yards on 20 carries for Seattle in a 26-20 win over the Denver Broncos. Seattle ran 33 times for 146 yards. The Patriots ran 39 times for 170 yards.

Another similarity between the Week 2 foes: Seattle counts on a retread starting quarterback, Geno Smith, to steer the offense and take shots downfield when the defense invites them. Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett had 32 rushing yards — including a 16-yarder — one of the surprises of Week 1 for Mayo.

“(Brissett) actually made some plays with his legs, which was surprising, because he’s probably the slowest Black quarterback in the league,” Mayo joked Monday in a separate radio appearance on WEEI.

–Field Level Media

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Jerod Mayo makes Patriots’ QB call, but he’s not telling

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo made the call and knows the winner of the quarterback competition between Jacoby Brissett and rookie No. 3 pick Drake Maye.

But he’s not ready to spill the tea.

“I know everyone wants to know that. I’m going to talk to the individual players tomorrow — I’m going to have a team meeting tomorrow — and then I’ll get it to you guys,” Mayo said. “Yes, we’ve made a decision; just haven’t communicated. And honestly, I want those guys to hear it first from me before they hear it from someone else.”

When training camp began, the Patriots identified Brissett, a 31-year-old journeyman with 48 career starts with five NFL teams, as the clear No. 1 on the quarterback depth chart. Mayo lauded his “veteran presence” and quick mastery of the offense.

But Mayo said earlier this week Maye had “outplayed” Brissett before hedging that performance measures weren’t the only factor he’ll consider in a decision that will involve offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, others on the coaching staff and personnel boss Eliot Wolf.

“Look, they’ve gone through the process as well. They’ve gone through the spring with these players, they’ve gone through training camp with these players,” Mayo said. “I’m sure they all have an opinion on who should be the starting quarterback, but I don’t think I have to explain it to anyone else. It’s my decision, and if it doesn’t work, blame me.”

Mayo likely doesn’t want the blame of a setback in Maye’s development. One critical concern evident in training camp was the pass protection on the offensive line.

Maye was 21 of 32 for 192 yards and a touchdown in the preseason, when he totaled seven carries for 32 yards with one touchdown. Brissett was 5 of 14 for 36 yards, threw a red-zone interception and posted a QB rating of 14.6.

Even if Maye begins the season as Brissett’s backup on Sept. 8 at Cincinnati, nothing is set in stone, the New England coach said.

“I would say one thing: I think it’s important to remember, what’s good for the team today may not be good for the team weeks down the line,” Mayo said.

–Field Level Media

Jun 12, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and quarterback Jacob y Brissett (14) throw passes at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots coach: ‘Drake has outplayed Jacoby’

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Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said rookie Drake Maye “outplayed” veteran Jacoby Brissett in the preseason but he is still not ready to name a starting quarterback.

“What I will say is this is a true competition and I would say, at this current point, Drake has outplayed Jacoby,” the New England coach said during Monday morning’s appearance on WEEI. “Now, in saying that, we have to take in the full body of work, going all the way back to the spring and beginning of training camp. And, we’ll see where we end up. But, those are the conversations that will happen here over the next couple of days.”

Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 192 yards and a touchdown in three preseason games. Brissett completed just 35.7 percent of his attempts for 36 yards and an interception.

Maye also rushed seven times for 34 yards and a touchdown.

During a conference call with reporters Monday, Mayo said he hopes to name a starter “over the next couple of days.”

“I think there are multiple factors that kind of have to go into this decision,” Mayo said. “One is the total body of work, whether we’re talking about the spring or the entirety of training camp. And now, I’d also say oftentimes we forget about just the overall experience that a guy like Jacoby has, which will also be weighted in the decision that we have to make here in the near future.

“But I’m happy with the way those guys are battling it out, and hopefully over the next couple of days, we can name the starter and get the season rolling.”

The Patriots open the regular season on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only other NFL team that had not named a starting quarterback as of Monday morning.

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo answers questions from the media at a press conference at Gillette Stadium to announce his hiring as head coach. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots targeting right QB to lead team in ‘right direction’

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INDIANAPOLIS — Holding the No. 3 pick in April’s draft and $78 million in cap space, the New England Patriots are optimistic about their options in their first offseason this century without Bill Belichick.

Director of scouting Eliot Wolf, the club’s de facto general manager, and new head coach Jerod Mayo will continue putting the pieces in place for a rebuild at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine.

“This is a new program, and we’re heading in the right direction. It’s a new era,” Wolf said at the podium on Tuesday. “We have leadership with Jerod Mayo, that is going to be tremendous. He’s just an unbelievable leader and developer of people. And I think that as we move forward with the new offense and defense, it’s going to be pretty special and exciting here.”

After posting their worst record (4-13) since 1992 last season with quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, Wolf confirmed that the team will meet with the top three signal-callers in the draft class: USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

“I think it’s a really good year for quarterbacks,” Wolf said. “It’s a really good year at a lot of positions. Like any position we’re going to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, determine who fits for us. We’re pretty early in the process here. Like, I haven’t met any of these guys. Jerod hasn’t met any of these guys. So as we continue through the process here, we’ll determine what’s best for the team. One thing about the quarterbacks in this draft specifically that I’m excited about is that they all look like they’re really tough guys, which is obviously great at any position, but the quarterback position especially.”

The Boston Herald reported that the Patriots will meet with most of the quarterbacks available this week through formal and informal interviews.

Jones, 25, has not progressed since his Pro Bowl rookie season as a 2021 first-round pick. He threw 23 interceptions and 24 touchdown passes during the 2022-23 campaigns. Zappe, 24, completed just 59.9 percent of his throws last season with more picks (nine) than TDs (six).

Wolf was asked about what he is looking for in a franchise quarterback — for a franchise spoiled by two decades of dominance from Tom Brady.

“First of all being someone that can elevate his teammates,” Wolf said. “Someone that your teammates want to play for. I think that’s an extremely underrated thing that people don’t really talk about that much. Leadership’s important and obviously physical talent. We wouldn’t be talking about these guys if they weren’t physically talented.”

Wolf, 41, said all options — including a trade — are on the table with the No. 3 pick. He said the responsibility for the first-round pick will be his.

The Patriots also need help at wide receiver, tight end and offensive tackle. The draft class is deep with wideouts and tackles.

“I think it depends on who we’re talking about and what holes we end up having,” Wolf said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the start of the season to patch those holes in. And hopefully we’re going to do more than patch them. We’re going to try to get the best players that we can and we’ll see what happens at the quarterback position.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (L) and owner Robert Kraft pose for photos after a press conference announcing Mayo's hiring as the team's head coach at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo ‘not trying to be Bill’

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Jerod Mayo plans to take the lessons he learned from his predecessor and make the Patriots his own.

Mayo was introduced as head coach in New England on Wednesday, his first day in the seat previously occupied by six-time Super Bowl championship coach Bill Belichick.

“For me, I’m not trying to be Bill, I’m not trying to be Bill. I think that Bill is his own man, if you can’t tell by now, I’m even a little bit different up here,” said Mayo. “But what I will say is, the more I think about the lessons that I’ve taken from Bill, hard work works, right? Hard work works. And that’s what we’re all about.”

Mayo was drafted by the Patriots and worked as an assistant coach under Belichick. He has never played for or coached any other NFL team.

The Patriots were 4-13 and again finished outside of the playoff picture in the AFC, leading to a “mutual” parting between Belichick and owner Robert Kraft after 24 years and nine Super Bowl appearances.

Mayo, who won a Super Bowl with New England as an inside linebacker, joined the Patriots’ coaching staff in 2019. He was quickly promoted to head coach under terms of his contract that named him as the successor to Belichick.

He hinted at changes, some of which will align the Patriots with traditional NFL coaching staff structure to include official titles of defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator. There will be movement on the personnel side, too. The Patriots own the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft.

Mayo was clear about what he’s looking for on his roster and sounds ready to tackle reshaping the offense

“First of all, just the energy, the passion, the leaders on the offensive side of the ball,” Mayo said. “I think you have to get that stuff in place, and honestly, as the season starts to roll, well this season when it ends, we start in the weight room. I think the weight room is one of the most important areas in the building to really evaluate the people you have on your team. And one thing we don’t want to do is have people who are complainers, or finger-pointing, or things like that.”

Belichick could continue coaching and interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons this week.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots follow succession plan, Jerod Mayo replaces Bill Belichick

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Hand-picked successor Jerod Mayo officially will be elevated to head coach by the New England Patriots, one day after the organization bid farewell to Bill Belichick, according to multiple reports Friday.

Mayo, 37, was identified in 2023 as the coach-in-waiting as part of owner Robert Kraft’s succession plan in the event Belichick wasn’t retained. Mayo is expected to be introduced as head coach next week.

Under NFL rules, the contractual replacement plan erases the requirement for the Patriots to follow league hiring rules. It is not known if Kraft interviewed additional candidates or discussed the opening with other members of the current Patriots’ staff, many of whom are under contract even after Belichick’s departure.

The “Patriot Way” will be nothing new for Mayo. He played linebacker for the Patriots and served as inside linebackers coach and has not coached — or played — outside the organization.

Mayo said after the season-ending loss to the Jets that he felt prepared when his opportunity came, perhaps knowing it was imminent.

“When I think about when I do get my opportunity, I don’t know when that’s going to be, honestly, I’m kind of like a dry leaf blowing in the wind, wherever (it) takes me,” Mayo said. “But at the same time, I feel like I’m prepared. I feel like I’m ready. I look forward to the opportunity, wherever that may be.”

Kraft shared that Mayo was a candidate to eventually replace Belichick at the league’s March meetings in 2023.

Belichick, who turns 72 in April, drafted Mayo 10th overall in 2008 out of Tennessee and the two-time Pro Bowl pick played with New England until 2015. Mayo has been on the Patriots’ staff since 2019.

He was a member of the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX-winning roster in 2015.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Next Patriots coach odds pulled after huge Jerod Mayo action

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Within an hour of releasing odds on who will succeed Bill Belichick as the New England Patriots’ head coach, a sportsbook was forced to pull them down after a rush of action on Jerod Mayo.

Mayo opened as the -350 favorite by SportsBetting.ag. When those odds shortened to -700 within an hour, the book pulled the market down.

Mayo, 37, was a first-round pick by the Patriots in 2008 and spent all eight of his NFL seasons playing for Belichick as one of the game’s top inside linebackers. He later joined Belichick’s staff as the position coach and has worked with New England’s inside linebackers for the past five years.

He’s a logical choice to fill Belichick’s legendary shoes and would provide continuity for the franchise. So, too, would Mike Vrabel. The 48-year-old played eight seasons for the Patriots and offers something significant that Mayo’s resume lacks – head-coaching experience.

Vrabel, fired as Tennessee’s head coach earlier this week, was being offered at +250 by the book to replace Belichick. Vrabel is expected to be on the short list for several of what is now eight head-coaching vacancies around the NFL.

The next shortest odds belonged to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson at +400. No one else had shorter than the +1400 odds placed on Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

And what about Belichick’s future?

The six-time Super Bowl winning coach said he is “excited for the future” on Thursday and the 71-year-old is expected to draw interest for multiple openings as well.

NFL Network and ESPN reported at least three teams have serious interest in him. NFL Network reported the Atlanta Falcons, who fired Arthur Smith on Sunday, will be at the head of the line to talk to Belichick and would be willing to give him full control of the football operation as a coach, general manager and vice president.

The Falcons were installed as the +100 favorite to hire Belichick. Atlanta has a deep-pocketed owner in Arthur Blank, but questions at quarterback that must be addressed — especially considering the struggles the Patriots have endured at the position since Tom Brady departed.

BILL BELICHICK NEXT TEAM ODDS
Atlanta Falcons (+100)
Washington Commanders (+300)
Tennessee Titans (+400)
Carolina Panthers (+700)
Los Angeles Chargers (+800)
Las Vegas Raiders (+900)
Seattle Seahawks (+2500)

(Odds provided for entertainment purposes only. SportsBetting.ag is not a regulated sportsbook in the United States).

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Giants outside linebacker David Mayo (55) takes the field before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Giants lose S McKinney (foot) and LB Mayo (knee)

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The New York Giants lost rookie safety Xavier McKinney and linebacker David Mayo to serious injuries Wednesday.

Both players were projected starters this season and both are facing significant recovery times.

McKinney, a second-round pick out of Alabama, fractured his left foot and was scheduled for surgery Wednesday afternoon.

The 22-year-old tallied 95 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions in 13 games with the Crimson Tide in 2019.

Mayo, entering his sixth NFL season and second with New York, will have surgery Thursday for a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Mayo, 27, played all 16 games (13 starts) and tied for second on the Giants with a career-high 80 tackles in 2019, including his first two career sacks.

–Field Level Media