One day after parting ways with Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots have hired the legendary head coach’s successor.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots have hired Jerod Mayo as their new head coach. The 37-year-old Mayo, who will now be the NFL’s youngest head coach, is expected to officially be named New England’s next head coach at a press conference next week.
Selected by the Patriots out of Tennessee with the No. 10 overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, Mayo spent the entirety of his eight-year NFL career in New England, earning one first-team All-Pro and two Pro Bowl selections. The 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year tallied 53 tackles while appearing in six games during the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning season in 2014.
After retiring following the 2015 NFL season, Mayo joined Belichick’s staff as the team’s inside linebackers coach in 2019. According to ESPN, Mayo received a contract extension following the 2022 season, which included him being named as Belichick’s successor. While Mayo wasn’t supposed to take over until after the 2024 season, New England’s 4-13 campaign accelerated the plan with the Patriots parting ways with their six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach on Thursday.
Following the news of Mayo being hired as Belichick’s successor, many took to social media to weigh in.
92% of Titans Twitter piecing together how Kraft tampering with Vrabel resulted in this: https://t.co/fYOvRBGY1d pic.twitter.com/BcOIGtqycy
— Davey Shepherd (@daveytshep) January 12, 2024
Your move @PopTartsBowl. https://t.co/b8mI1bkCAZ
— Duke's Mayo Bowl (@DukesMayoBowl) January 12, 2024
With the hiring of Jerod Mayo in New England, the Patriots are expected to consider Tubby Mayo (Jerod’s cousin) as the possible next defensive coordinator. https://t.co/JGHclnosHT pic.twitter.com/1RKyx9ynPa
— 🇸🇲 Sickos Committee 🇸🇲 (@SickosCommittee) January 12, 2024
good luck, sir. good luck. https://t.co/R0xoGYtT9e
— bomani (@bomani_jones) January 12, 2024
The Patriots 2008 draft class now has produced two NFL head coaches: First-round pick Jerod Mayo and third-round pick Kevin O’Connell. https://t.co/wp0WVqgGEP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2024
The right move. https://t.co/TH7jiHFzAA
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 12, 2024
The New Era!!! Congrats Jerod https://t.co/9BibpV61I7
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) January 12, 2024
YESSIRRRRRRRRRR CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS MY BOIIIII 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 PATRIOTNATION IS IN GREAT HANDS I MUST SAY https://t.co/DiZnhYkhaZ
— Deion Branch #83 #84 (@deionbranch84) January 12, 2024
Congrats to Mayo! He definitely will be a great head coach https://t.co/DVjfckGvCM
— James White (@SweetFeet_White) January 12, 2024
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.