Bill Simmons Believes Timing of Jerod Mayo Firing Was Wrong

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jan 6, 2025 3:44 PM ET

In the continuing aftermath of the New England Patriots firing of former head coach Jerod Mayo, the media pundits got a good night's rest and are back firing on all cylinders to question the timing of the decisions.

Notably, many, like all-things-Boston superfan Bill Simmon, believe the Patriots' decision to move on from Mayo was pre-determined before their Week 18 matchup because the team released prepared statements from ownership with full-on social media graphics ready to go quickly after its 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Simmons shared his thoughts about the Patriots, owner Robert Kraft, Mayo and fumbling away the No. 1 overall pick on his podcast with "Cousin Sal," long-time friend, Sal Iacono.

Around the 24:17 mark of the video above, Simmons discusses the questionable timing of the Mayo's firing, stating he believes Kraft should've fired Mayo before the game.

“The thing that kills me is they fire the coach right after the game. They knew they were going to do that for at least a week,” Simmons said. “So you’re letting this guy — basically he’s trying to win and the offensive coordinator, they’re trying to win because they don’t know if they’re gonna be there. They’re trying to coach for their jobs. ...

“You gotta get rid of those guys if you know you’re gonna get rid of them after the game. Why not get rid of them before the game? Why not put this decision in the hands of people who care about the big long-term picture of the franchise instead of trying to win the game?”

With the win, the Patriots lost control over the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and moved to the No. 4 pick behind the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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