FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Shifting swiftly in the future after parting methods with legendary coach Invoice Belichick, the New England Patriots have chosen Jerod Mayo as his successor and the fifteenth head coach in franchise historical past, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Mayo, 37, can be formally launched at a information convention subsequent week. He would be the youngest coach within the NFL, taking up a title that Sean McVay had held since being named the Los Angeles Rams coach in 2017; Mayo is a month youthful than McVay.
A linebacker for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015 after being chosen within the first spherical of the draft out of Tennessee, Mayo joined Belichick’s teaching employees in 2019, serving as linebackers coach.
The Patriots had been capable of forgo the usual NFL hiring course of and instantly rent Mayo as a result of they established a succession plan within the contract extension he signed final offseason, just like what the Baltimore Ravens did with their normal supervisor place when Eric DeCosta succeeded Ozzie Newsome in 2019.
Belichick Leaves Pats
• Belichick leaving Pats after 24 seasons, six titles• Belichick’s legacy: The NFL’s biggest dynasty• What’s Belichick’s market? We requested NFL execs• Pats timeline: From six titles to Belichick’s exit• The place it went flawed: Inside Kraft-Belichick breakup• Social media response: LeBron, ex-Pats, extra• NFL teaching adjustments: Newest information, hires
Mayo turns into the primary Black head coach in Patriots historical past.
He had notable assist amongst gamers within the locker room, particularly on protection. When information of Belichick leaving broke, one defender stated in a textual content: “I hope they offer it to Mayo. He deserves it.”
Captain Deatrich Clever Jr. credited Mayo as a main cause he felt the protection skilled success in opposition to Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen in a Week 17 loss.
As a participant, Mayo was named staff captain in his second season, with some gamers referring to him as Invoice Jr. as a result of they considered him as a future coach who spent numerous hours on the staff facility, like Belichick himself.
Belichick and the Patriots introduced Thursday that he would go away the staff following 24 seasons as coach that included six Tremendous Bowl titles. The choice to half methods was made after conferences between Belichick and Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, with Belichick saying it was time to “transfer on.”
Editor’s Picks
1 Associated
Mayo spent his whole enjoying profession in New England, showing in 103 video games and totaling 905 tackles. He led the staff in tackles every of his first 5 seasons and have become simply the second Patriots participant to win The Related Press Defensive Rookie of the 12 months Award. He was a part of one Tremendous Bowl championship staff, in 2014, restricted to 6 video games that season as a consequence of a leg harm.
Upon his retirement after the 2015 season, Mayo labored in finance for Optum, a well being care companies supplier. He has cited how that have, coupled with working below Belichick, set himself as much as in the future develop into a head coach.
“I really feel like I am ready. I really feel like I am prepared,” Mayo stated in early January. “I really feel like I can speak to males, girls, previous, younger, white, Black — it would not matter. And hopefully develop these folks into upstanding residents and assist them evolve. That is how I give it some thought. I really feel like my calling is to develop.”
Mayo just lately shared that constructing relationships with gamers is a foundational a part of his teaching fashion.
“I coach out of affection. When you construct that relationship with a man, you may be robust on the gamers,” he stated. “But when you do not have that heat earlier than confidence; it was somewhat completely different once I performed. Regardless of the coach advised you to do, you simply exit and do it. However this technology is somewhat bit completely different. They need to perceive the ‘why.'”