The New England Patriots fired coach Jerrod Mayo on Sunday evening, just one season after promoting him to succeed the great Bill Belichick.
Mayo's firing came after New England's 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on the final day of the regular season, as the Patriots finished 4-13 for their third straight losing campaign.
“After today’s game, I have informed Jerod Mayo that he will not return as head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025,” owner Robert Kraft said in a statement.
“For me personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. I've known Giroud for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career because of his play on the field, his leadership. In the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community.” .
“When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident, as you saw how the players responded to him.
“When other teams started asking to interview him, I was afraid of losing him and committed to making him our next coach. Winning the season opener away to Cincinnati solidified my convictions.
He added: “Unfortunately, our team's performance throughout the season did not improve as I had hoped.”
Mayo previously spent eight seasons with the Patriots as a player, during which he won the Super Bowl during the 2014 season.
He eventually returned in 2019 to join Belichick's staff as midfielders coach, confirming himself as one of the most celebrated defensive minds in football.
His popularity has him emerging as a leading candidate to replace Belichick when his time in Foxboro is up. That moment arrived on the back of a 4-13 record in 2023 as the Patriots moved on from Belichick after six of nine Super Bowl victories and 24 seasons in charge.
At 37, he began the season as the second-youngest coach in the NFL behind Seattle's Mike McDonald.
Please use Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player
Highlights of the confrontation between the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots in Week 17 of the NFL.
“I am grateful for Jerrod’s many contributions to the New England Patriots throughout his career and will always root for his success,” Kraft added.
“I appreciate all his hard work and hope the experiences gained will help him in the future, as I still believe he will be a successful coach in this league. I wish Giroud and his family nothing but success in the future.”
The tough season has included encouraging signs from rookie quarterback Drake Maye, whose performance should allow the Patriots to prioritize other positions in the NFL draft, if they so desire.
New England began the campaign with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals, before losing six in a row including a defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London after which Mayo divided critics by suggesting his team played “soft.”
The Patriots responded with two wins in their next three against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears either side of an overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans, before suffering another six-game skid including a 40-7 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers at the end of December.
May's exit comes as Mike Vrabel's name is back in the pool of head coaching candidates around the league, as the former Tennessee Titans coach won three Super Bowls during his time as a player in New England.
