Jerod Mayo has been hired to replace Bill Belichick as the head coach of the New England Patriots, the team announced on Friday.
Mayo, 37, who has served as the Patriots’ inside linebackers coach under Belichick since 2019, will become the youngest head coach in the NFL when he is formally introduced at a news conference on Wednesday, the team said.
ESPN was first to report the news of Mayo’s promotion.
The hire comes a day after Belichick agreed to part ways with the Patriots after a 24-year run that included six Super Bowl wins.
Mayo immediately rose to the top of the list as viable Belichick successors since the Patriots took the unique step of announcing they were giving the assistant a long-term extension last offseason. Mayo, along with Belichick’s son and fellow linebackers coach Steve Belichick, handled the play calling duties for the Patriots defense over the past two seasons.
Despite New England’s 4-13 record this season, the team’s defense has remained highly ranked in several categories despite losing top linebacker Matt Judon and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez early to season-ending injuries.
Though it’s unclear what the terms of Mayo’s deal prior to last season entailed, it came after he interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs in Philadelphia and Carolina each of the past two years.
Last week Mayo spoke to the Associated Press about the invaluable perspective he’s gained during New England’s worst season under Belichick and how it would help whenever he was given a chance to lead a team.
“When I think about when I do get my opportunity – and 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.”
Mayo, who played for New England at linebacker for eight seasons, won a Super Bowl ring with the team during the 2014 campaign and was hired as an assistant coach in 2019.
In the later role he has since developed a reputation for being well-respected among players. Together with outside linebackers coach and defensive play-caller Stephen Belichick they have led a Patriots defense that remained ranked highly in several categories despite losing top linebacker Matt Judon and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez early to season-ending injuries.
In announcing the decision to part ways with Belichick on Thursday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft promised to move quickly on trying to fill the hole.
Kraft said that the mandate for the next coach would be a return to the postseason for a Patriots team that has missed the playoffs in three of the past four seasons and hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2018 season.
“We’re looking for someone who can help us get back to the playoffs and win,” Kraft said. “Believe me, after my family, this is really one of the two most important assets in my life. I am very upset when we don’t win games. It carries the whole week. So, I promise you I’ll be focused to do the best I can do to make sure we’re putting ourselves in the best long-term position to win for many years.”
During his time in the coaching ranks, Mayo has quickly developed a reputation for being able to relate to players.
Former Patriots safety Devin McCourty played alongside Mayo for six seasons and then under him from 2019 through 2022.
During an appearance on NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk on Friday, McCourty pointed out that one thing that will benefit Mayo is that he also had the opportunity to hone his skills in other places as well, notably the time he spent working in finance at Optum.
“When you hear him talk, he talks not just leadership in football by kind of CEO talk in life leading people,” McCourty said.
Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley said earlier this month that Mayo already garners lots of respect around the locker room.
“Players love him. I love to play for him. He gets the best out of his players,” Bentley said. “At the same time, he understands as far as the culture and everything how to get everybody going.”
But Mayo will likely get criticism from some about how much time he’s spent inside the Patriot bubble. That’s nothing he can’t overcome, McCourty said.
“I understand the reservations of people who are like, ‘Well, all he is, is a Patriot,’” McCourty said. “But when people get to be around him and talk to him, they’ll see the differences in him and Bill and how the organization will be going forward.”
