In one of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason, Jerod Mayo took over as head coach of the New England Patriots, succeeding the legendary Bill Belichick.
As most knew, Mayo’s contract included a clause designating him as Belichick’s successor.
Although he’s a former player and assistant coach under Belichick, it’s safe to assume owner Robert Kraft wasn’t expecting to kick Bill to the curb as quickly as he did.
One might assume that Mayo would maintain close communication with his former mentor, given their shared history. However, Mayo indicated that isn’t the case when asked by Kay Adams on her Up & Adams show.
“So that’s a tough question. We haven’t had a lot of communication since I’ve been here and honestly, for me, my focus is the players. It’s all about the players,” Mayo said.
“I learned a lot from Bill, I honestly did – X’s and O’s, structure, practice, and things like that. But like I said, it’s a different time, a different era, and hopefully, we can achieve that same success.”
Mayo’s tenure with the Patriots began as a player from 2008 to 2015, during which he was a pivotal part of Belichick’s roster, renowned for his intelligence and leadership.
Post-retirement, Mayo joined the coaching staff as the inside linebackers coach in 2019, a role he held until his promotion to head coach in 2023.
Under Mayo’s leadership, the development of rookie quarterback Drake Maye is the franchise’s top priority.
With considerable potential, Maye’s progress could significantly impact the team’s future success.
The atmosphere within the organization has shifted noticeably. Belichick’s notoriously rigorous coaching style was effective during the Patriots’ winning streaks with Tom Brady.
However, in recent losing seasons, this approach has been less well-received by players.
Interestingly, Patriots star Matthew Judon had a visible disagreement with Mayo at a recent practice and walked off. It’s hard to imagine a player doing that to Belichick.
While winning the Super Bowl is no longer a realistic goal for the Patriots – at least for another year or three – Kraft is hoping that Mayo can build a culture of sustained excellence the way Belichick did.
Only time will tell if he can…
