The Patriots want a brand new head coach and normal supervisor after mutually parting methods with Bill Belichick on Thursday, so this can be a protracted, drawn-out course of during which the staff declares it has requested interviews with a number of candidates whereas satisfying the NFL’s Rooney Rule. Right?
No.
The Patriots included an agreement in linebackers coach Jerod Mayo’s newest contract to develop into the staff’s subsequent head coach, which means they may keep away from the standard hiring course of, a supply instructed the Herald. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, who referred to as Mayo “a strong candidate to replace” Belichick, was first to report.
There’s some precedent to this. The Ravens didn’t undergo a conventional hiring course of when Eric DeCosta succeeded Ozzie Newsome as normal supervisor. There have been comparable circumstances when Jim Caldwell succeeded Tony Dungy because the Colts’ head coach and when Jim Mora Jr. took over for Mike Holmgren because the Seahawks’ head coach.
Here’s an excerpt from the NFL’s anti-tampering coverage:
“Contract may include an agreement to become the club’s next head coach, provided the agreement is filed with the League office at the time is signed and occurs prior to the season in which the vacancy occurs,” an NFL league spokesperson handed alongside.
Here’s an excerpt from an announcement the Fritz Pollard Alliance launched in 2018 after DeCosta took over for Newsome:
“Under Rooney Rule protocol, when a Club has established a firm succession plan that involves an internal coach or executive replacing a departing Head Coach or General Manager, no external search is required.”
The Patriots signed Mayo to a contract extension final offseason, earlier than the 2023 season.
Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft referred to as Mayo “a strong candidate to be the heir apparent” final offseason.
“There’s no ceiling on (Mayo’s) ability to be a head coach — and he’ll be a head coach,” Kraft mentioned on the time. “I’m sure of that. I hope he’s with us, so we’ll see what happens.”
Mayo performed beneath Belichick for eight seasons from 2008 to 2015. He spent three years out of the NFL earlier than becoming a member of the Patriots as a linebackers coach in 2019. He’s helped lead the Patriots’ protection, together with Steve Belichick and Bill Belichick, since that point and not using a coordinator function or play-calling duties.
The Patriots’ protection has excelled, rating first in lowest anticipated factors added (EPA) per play, first in lowest dropback EPA per play and tenth in lowest rush EPA per play since 2019.
Bill Belichick was requested about Mayo’s potential as a head coach final week.
“Yeah, I think we have a lot of coaches on our staff who are good coaches,” Belichick mentioned through video convention final Friday. “I’m not really in a position to comment on what other teams would be looking for or aren’t looking for. But yeah, I think we have a lot of good coaches on our staff. Jerod would be one of them.”
Kraft made Thursday’s press convention primarily about Belichick however did reply a query about what the staff is searching for in its subsequent head coach.
“We’re looking for someone who can help us get back to the playoffs and win. Believe me, after my family, this is really one of the two most important assets in my life,” Kraft mentioned. “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.”
If the Patriots don’t rent Mayo as their subsequent head coach, then different candidates embody ex-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Vrabel performed with the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, profitable three Super Bowls, and coached the Titans to the postseason in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Flores served within the Patriots’ entrance workplace and training employees from 2004 to 2018. He was the de-facto defensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2018 when the staff received Super Bowl LIII earlier than leaving to develop into head coach of the Dolphins.
Source: www.bostonherald.com