A major candidate has already emerged for the New England Patriots’ vacant head coaching job. Former Pro Bowl linebacker and first-rounder Jerod Mayo, a coach on the Pats’ staff, is a significant candidate for the position.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news on Thursday evening.
“Jerod Mayo is a strong candidate to replace Bill Belichick,” Rapoport said. The NFL Network insider reported the news on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. He continued. “If he is the choice, the Patriots could simply hire him. No need to go through the lengthy hiring process.”
Sources: Jerod Mayo is a strong candidate to replace Bill Belichick & if he is the choice, the #Patriots could simply hire him. No need to go through the lengthy hiring process — they established a firm, contractual succession plan in a prior contract & communicated it to the… pic.twitter.com/xZYUgEkUuC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 11, 2024
Mayo won Super Bowl 49 with the Patriots in the 2014-15 season. He played with the Pats from 2008-2015 after the team selected him tenth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He earned All-Pro honors in 2010 and made the Pro Bowl twice. Prior to his professional career, Mayo was a standout linebacker at the University of Tennessee. He earned First Team All-SEC honors in the 2007 season.
Mayo also was named to New England’s All-2010s team after his playing career ended. Since 2019, he’s been on the Patriots’ coaching staff as their inside linebackers coach. There has reportedly been a plan in place for Mayo to succeed Belichick eventually. That’s quite the honor and also quite the responsibility. But obviously, there appears to be no shortage of confidence in New England if this is their move.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022