Patriots Quickly Hire Head Coach To Replace Bill Belichick: Report

LOADING ERROR LOADING FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have agreed to hire Jerod Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick as the team’s first Black head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation. Details were still being worked out on Friday, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the decision.

Mayo played eight NFL seasons and won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots during the 2014 season. Advertisement Jerod Mayo, then an assistant coach with the New England Patriots, looks on before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 15, 2023. Chris Unger via Getty Images Mayo’s 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 of viable Belichick successors after 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. Advertisement Though it’s unclear what the terms of Mayo’s deal prior to last season entailed, it came after the 37 year old interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs in Philadelphia and Carolina each of the past two years.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.” Mayo isn’t expected to have the same control over personnel matters like Belichick did for most of his tenure with the Patriots.

Along with being coach, Belichick also served as New England’s de facto general manager. But Kraft pointed out on Thursday that Belichick didn’t receive that power until after he won his third Super Bowl with the team following the 2004 season and that Belichick “earned it and it worked pretty well for most of the time.” Advertisement That means a new general manager hire, or some other restructuring of the front office, is likely next on Kraft’s plate.

Support HuffPost The Stakes Have Never Been Higher At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Our News, Politics and Culture teams invest time and care working on hard hitting investigations and researched analyses, along with quick but robust daily takes. Our Life, Health and Shopping desks provide you with well researched, expert vetted information you need to live your best life, while HuffPost Personal, Voices and Opinion center real stories from real people.

Help keep news free for everyone by giving us as little as $1. Your contribution will go a long way. At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Help keep news free for everyone by giving us as little as $1. Your contribution will go a long way. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the very foundations of our democracy are at stake. A vibrant democracy is impossible without well informed citizens. This is why HuffPost's journalism is free for everyone, not just those who can afford expensive paywalls.

We cannot do this without your help. Support our newsroom by contributing as little as $1 a month. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the very foundations of our democracy are at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a vibrant democracy is impossible without well informed citizens. This is why we keep our journalism free for everyone, even as most other newsrooms have retreated behind expensive paywalls.

Our newsroom continues to bring you hard hitting investigations, well researched analysis and timely takes on one of the most consequential elections in recent history. Reporting on the current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly — and we need your help. Support our newsroom by contributing as little as $1 a month.

Support HuffPost Related New England Patriots bill belichick Jerod Mayo LEAVE A COMMENT Suggest a correction Do you have info to share with HuffPost reporters? Here’s how. Go to Homepage Popular in the Community FROM OUR PARTNER.