The Patriots employed linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to change into their subsequent head coach Friday, a supply confirmed to the Herald.
Mayo, 37, turns into the youngest head coach within the NFL and the fifteenth in Patriots franchise historical past. He not too long ago concluded his fifth season as a coach at any stage, having rejoined the group as an assistant in 2019. Mayo has spent everything of his NFL profession in New England, the place first performed from 2008-2015.
The crew is anticipated to carry a press convention subsequent week to announce Mayo’s promotion.
According to a supply, throughout a renegotiation of Mayo’s contract final January, the Patriots included a clause that established a succession plan if and when the franchise parted methods with Bill Belichick. That clause permits Mayo to succeed Belichick with out the Patriots conducting a full head-coaching search underneath regular league guidelines. Belichick and proprietor Robert Kraft introduced a mutual parting of how Thursday.
Last May, Kraft declared his utmost perception in Mayo on the league’s annual conferences.
“There’s no ceiling on (Mayo’s) ability to be a head coach — and he’ll be a head coach. I’m sure of that,” Kraft mentioned. “I hope he’s with us, so we’ll see what happens.”
Prior to this season, Mayo interviewed 3 times for head-coaching positions: with the Eagles in 2021 and Raiders and Broncos in 2022. He declined an interview for Carolina’s head job final yr, across the time the Patriots renegotiated his contract. Mayo has lengthy expressed confidence in turning into a head coach someday.
“I think I’m ready to be a head coach in the league,” Mayo informed reporters on the finish of the 2022 season. “But I have to say this, too: right now, my focus is on being here with the Patriots. But that’s definitely still the goal.”
Mayo is extremely revered contained in the Patriots’ constructing, referred to as somebody who connects with gamers, instructions the room and is well-regarded for his Xs and Os. He was the fastest-rising assistant ever underneath Belichick, and the primary place coach to be employed with no yr of expertise teaching within the NFL or main school ranks. In his early years, Mayo’s developed a robust status throughout the league.
In March 2022, after Mayo’s third season in teaching, two NFL executives informed the Herald they believed he would quickly change into a head coach.
“I don’t think it’s going to take long,” mentioned Broncos common supervisor George Paton. “I mean, he lights up a room. … We really enjoyed the interview.”
“I like him. I like him a lot,” a high-ranking AFC govt added. “And I think he has a lot of good qualities. But these are big, big jobs. So it’s just a matter of time.”
The Patriots are more likely to start a seek for the subsequent head of their personnel division, a job Belichick additionally held throughout his 24-year run as coach.
ESPN first reported Mayo’s hiring.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com