Two hours after the New England Patriots victory against AFC East rival Buffalo Bills, ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced the news that had become expected:
Patriots fired HC Jerod Mayo, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rZUOOoKmVC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2025
Shortly after the news was announced, Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft released a statement that raised more questions than answers.
Statement from Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft: https://t.co/2YgHtzzBHK pic.twitter.com/GMXGgd768x
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 5, 2025
Most importantly, Kraft admitted he made a mistake hiring Mayo. Kraft stated that he feared in recent years that Mayo would be poached by another team to become their head coach, therefore he committed to him being the successor to the legendary Bill Belichick.
It was one of the worst decisions the franchise had made.
The Jerod Mayo Era
Mayo was not ready to be head coach whatsoever. His entire professional playing and coaching career had been with one team. All other 31 head coaches in the league have spent time with multiple programs, learning under different coaches, except for Mayo, who knew practically nothing outside of the Patriot Way.
The former Patriots linebacker has also only coached for six years. This slim history alone explains was not even close to the right hire for New England:
- As a coach:
- New England Patriots (2019–2023)
- Inside linebackers coach
- New England Patriots (2024)
- Head coach
- New England Patriots (2019–2023)
A consistent topic around social media has been “what Jerod Mayo was supposed to do.” The Patriots had the worst roster in the league and made practically no moves in the offseason. A fair argument.
That does not mean the coach is safe.
Jerod Mayo’s Mistakes
Mayo’s tenure was filled with throwing players under the bus, players mouthing off on social media and to the media, making statements, and then walking back on them with no clear vision whatsoever. He took zero accountability for anything that happened and even went on throwing his offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, under the bus for not running Drake Maye in short yardage.
https://www.tiktok.com/@nbcsboston/video/7448851519425809710
He walked back on that comment a few days later.
After the team’s sixth straight loss, Mayo called the Patriots a “soft team across the board.”
Jerod Mayo: “We’re a soft football team.” pic.twitter.com/2zpnZYcBlg
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 20, 2024
He walked back on those comments a day later, saying they were “playing soft at the moment.”
The former Tennessee Vol was a mess with the media all season, which was finally capped off in his final presser.
Mayo had been wearing a blue pin for Robert Kraft’s “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign all season. He did not wear it in his final game.
When asked why he did not wear it, he stated, “I apologize for not having it visible. You can make a story about it if you want to.”
Jerod Mayo wasn't wearing the blue pin he normally dons for #Patriots owner Robert Kraft's "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" campaign.
Asked about it, he said there was no significance to not wearing it: "I had a big coat on and it was kind of like the same thing last week or in…
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) January 5, 2025
Talent Level
The on-field talent was not good, either.
The team was in the top 12 in penalties after being in the bottom eight in the previous season. Though their offense improved from 13.9 points per game (32/32) a season ago to 17.0 per game (29/32), that has less to do with Mayo than it does with having Drake Maye instead of Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones.
Speaking of Maye, Mayo also sat him for the first five games of the season in favor of journeyman Jacoby Brissett. With Brissett as the starter, the team averaged 12.4 points per game, but with Maye in, the number jumped to 18.7 points per game over the final twelve games.
Maye was significantly better than anything Brissett had to offer. After becoming the starter, Maye only had three games with less than 200 yards, one of them being a game he left early due to injury. Maye’s rushing ability was also a big addition to the offense, rushing for 421 total yards.
Jacoby Brissett did not pass for more than 168 yards. He had 62 total rushing yards.
The Defense Was Not Good, Either
The defense was utterly embarrassing.
Jerod Mayo is a defensive head coach. He prided himself on the defensive side of the ball, as that is where he held a job before becoming head coach.
The Patriots were dead last in sacks. Their opponents’ points per game increased from 21.5 to 24.5. They were in the top five in rush yards allowed last season. They were in the bottom ten this season.
The End
Finally, Mayo cost the team the number one pick. A loss to the Buffalo Bills in the season finale would give the Patriots the top selection in the draft for the first time in 30 years. The Patriots won.
Mayo was all smiles.
Jerod Mayo laughing on the sideline as the Patriots are about to lose the 1st overall pick.
Yea, he’s gone
— Savage (@SavageSports_) January 5, 2025
The Patriots were a rudderless ship all season. The team had no clear direction, even with a quarterback they selected in the top three. They had no identity whatsoever, and that rookie quarterback was the only reason many tuned in to watch this team week after week.
What Now?
The Patriots now turn to interviews for head coaches. They will be one of the bigger jobs on the market this offseason, with Drake Maye, the No. 4 pick, and $133 million in cap space.
Two prominent names come to mind: Former Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel, and Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson.
Mike Vrabel
Vrabel feels like the obvious outcome. He has plenty of experience in the NFL, a former Coach of the Year winner, and is close with the Patriots organization. In fact, part of the reason he was fired from the Titans was because he was at a Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony during the Titans’ bye week.
The Athletic’s Chad Graff reported that Vrabel has been extremely interested in the Patriots job and would be very open to it.
Close with the Kraft family, experienced, checks off multiple boxes for the Patriots.
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson has been incredible for the Lions. The Lions’ offense is in the top five in nearly every major category, and they lead the league in points per game (33.2) by three points.
Johnson’s offense has also been extremely fun, with plays ranging from fake fumbles to offensive linemen lining up at receiver.
DID THE LIONS JUST RUN A PLAY WITH A DESIGNED FAKE STUMBLE AND FALL THAT LEAD TO A TD??? pic.twitter.com/EUUhcAuSzB
— IcyVert (@IcyVert) December 22, 2024
Johnson might not check the experience as a head coach box or the closeness with the Krafts as Vrabel does, but there is much to like about him.
A UNC graduate who studied at Boston College, Johnson is extremely close with Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf and is a big fan of Drake Maye.
#Lions OC Ben Johnson will interview for the #Patriots and #Bears head coaching jobs during this week’s bye — a sign he has real interest in both jobs. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/tDzqcyl9rz
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 6, 2025
Johnson has been extremely picky with the teams he will give a chance to, and the Patriots are one of the two he has. The Lions’ offensive genius was one of the top candidates on the market last season but shockingly chose to stay in Detroit.
One might ask— did the hiring of Jerod Mayo cause him to return to the Lions?
The Patriots will most likely come to a decision in the following months. We’ll be following the process closely.
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