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The New England Patriots fired Jerod Mayo after the final game of his lone season as head coach, the team confirmed in a statement shared on behalf of owner Robert Kraft on Sunday (January 5).
Mayo, 38, was the chosen by Kraft as the successor to Bill Belichick, having played linebacker for eight seasons and worked as an inside linebackers coach for five seasons under the six-time Super Bowl champion. The Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills, 23-16, on Sunday, which improved their record to 4-13, but spoiled their chances of having the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
"After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," Kraft said. "I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for 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 I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach. Winning our season-opener on the road at Cincinnati only strengthened my convictions. Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team's performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped."
"Since buying the team, I have always considered myself and my family as custodians of a public asset. We have tremendous fans who expect and deserve a better product than we have delivered in recent years. I apologize for that. I have given much thought and consideration as to what actions I can take to expedite our return to championship contention and determined this move was the best option at this time."
"I am grateful for Jerod's many contributions to the New England Patriots throughout his career and will always be rooting for his success. 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 head coach in this league. I wish Jerod and his family nothing but success in the future."
Mayo is a member of the Patriots All-2010s Team and the Super Bowl XLIX team. The former University of Tennessee standout was also a two-time Pro Bowler and a First-team All Pro selection in 2010, a season in which he led the NFL in solo tackles and combined tackles.