Jerod Mayo will become Patriots head coach (report)
Owner Robert Kraft said the Patriots will move “very quickly” in their search for a new head coach during his press conference after mutually parting ways with now former head coach Bill Belichick.
Kraft was telling the truth as the Patriots have decided on 37-year-old Jerod Mayo, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Mayo has only known New England following being drafted in the first round in 2008 and was a leader on defense for eight seasons. He even sat in on coaching meetings during his playing days, as revealed by former Patriot Brandon Spikes in a story by Chad Graff of The Athletic.
“For the first few weeks of his rookie season, Spikes couldn’t figure out how Mayo knew the game plan by the time Spikes showed up at 7:30 a.m.”
Finally, Spikes asked.
“Oh,” Mayo responded, “I sit in on the coaching staff’s 6 a.m. meeting.”
Mayo now goes from sitting in to running the meetings. He will become the youngest NFL head coach, taking over that title from Rams leader Sean McVay.
When hiring an NFL head coach there are steps and certain guidelines in the process that have to be followed. Most notably, the Rooney rule which states the team has to interview two external minority candidates before making a new hire. However, that is not the case with Mayo due to a contract agreement last offseason.
Ian Rapaport of NFL Network posted on X Thursday night, prior to the news this morning from Schefter, that the plan for Mayo was already set in place.
“Jerod Mayo is a strong candidate to replace Bill Belichick & if he is the choice, the Patriots could simply hire him. No need to go through the lengthy hiring process -- they established a firm, contractual succession plan in a prior contract & communicated it to the NFL.”
This latest news really puts the comment by Kraft of “very quickly” into context. In terms of timeline the Patriots could forego the Rooney rule and make their choice known.
Towards the end of the offseason Mayo spoke about his thoughts on becoming a head coach in the NFL.
“I feel like I’m ready. 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 ... I feel like my calling is to develop.”
Mayo becomes the Patriots 15th head coach in franchise history. Schefter is reporting the official introduction will be made next week.
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