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Patriots make right call with quick HC hire of Jerod Mayo

New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo is replacing Bill Belichick as head coach. Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots, Robert Kraft make right call with quick HC hire of former All-Pro LB

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/13/24

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Thursday during Bill Belichick's exit news conference that the team would "try to move very quickly" in the next steps to hire a new head coach.

Less than 24 hours later, it was reported that the Patriots had found their man.

It’s a new era in New England: the Patriots have hired Jerod Mayo as their next head coach and he will be formally introduced at a press conference next week, a source tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/SeHKoAonrP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2024

Though Jerod Mayo will become the youngest head coach in the NFL (37 years old) when the move becomes official, he doesn't lack experience.

Following an eight-year playing career from 2008-15 that included an AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, one First Team All-Pro nod and two Pro Bowl honors, he was hired as New England's inside linebackers coach in March 2019. Mayo's long been expected to be one of, if not the sole frontrunner to take over after Belichick left.

Jerod Mayo’s entire professional football career has been spent in New England. He was drafted in the first round by the Patriots in 2008, played all eight years of his career with them and has been their inside linebackers coach for the past five seasons.

Now he takes over as… https://t.co/wp0WVqgGEP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2024

Jerod Mayo earlier this month: "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.” https://t.co/t4ZIKYXNG3
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 12, 2024

Over his 103 career games (plus eight more playoff contests), the Tennessee product was one of the leaders both on the field and in the locker room. Mayo helped lead a Patriots defense that finished in the top 10 in points per game allowed in seven of his eight seasons, leading the league in tackles during his 2010 All-Pro campaign.

New England appeared in two Super Bowls during Mayo's playing days and earned the title in Super Bowl XLIX over the Seattle Seahawks.

While the Patriots have only been in the playoffs for two of the last five years since Mayo joined the staff and missed the cut each of the last two seasons, the team's defense has mostly done its job.

New England's defense was first in points against (14.1 points per game) during Mayo's first season on the sidelines, seventh in 2020 (22.1) and second in 2021 (17.8). Despite mass injuries and an organization that seemed to know Belichick's days were numbered for the last two years, the defense still finished a respectable 11th and 15th in the league in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Mayo's had a chance to work with and develop one of the best linebackers in the game over the last three years in four-time Pro Bowler Matt Judon, and after being limited to four games in 2023, he should be back ready to lead the Patriots defense in 2024.

Sometimes the obvious, expected choice in a head-coaching search is the best one, and that appears to be the case with the hiring of Mayo.

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