Jerod Mayo introduced as the new head coach of the Patriots
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By Frank O'Laughlin
FOXBORO, Mass. -- Jerod Mayo, who spent the entirety of NFL career learning from Bill Belichick as a player and then as an assistant, will be introduced as the new head coach of the New England Patriots on Wednesday.
Mayo, 37, is the youngest head coach in the NFL and the first Black coach in the history of the Patriots.
He will be formally introduced at noon at Gillette Stadium.
Mayo was drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2008 draft and he played eight seasons in New England, winning a Super Bowl ring in 2014. He has been an assistant under Belichick since 2019, serving primarily as the Patriots linebackers coach.
Mayo has a clear understanding of the Patriots’ defense (7th in the NFL in 2023), which was one of the lone bright spots for the team during their dismal 4-13 season.
Mayo was signed to a long-term extension last offseason. It’s unclear what the terms of that deal entailed, but it was reported last week that there was a “succession plan” clause written into Mayo’s contract that would allow the Patriots to fast-track him as head coach.
When asked last week what qualities he was looking for in a future head coach, Kraft said the plan was to move very quickly but kept the desired qualities in a candidate simple.
“We are looking for someone who can get us back to the playoffs and win,” Kraft said. “I’m very upset when we don’t win games and it carries the whole week. I promise you, our family will be dedicated to doing the best we can do to bring a winning team back.”
New England Patriots coaches Steve Belichick, left, and Jerod Mayo, right, against Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game against the Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) (Paul Connors/AP)
Kansas City Chiefs v New England Patriots FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 17: New England Patriots linebacker coach Jerod Mayo walks off the field after his team's 27-17 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Pstriots Mayo Football FILE - New England Patriots Jerod Mayo (51) looks over the line of scrimmage against the New York Giants at Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. The New England Patriots have agreed to hire Jerod Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick as their next head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation. Details were still being worked out on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the decision. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File) (Gregory Payan/AP)
Patriots Mayo Football FILE - Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) blocks New England Patriots middle linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass. The New England Patriots have agreed to hire Jerod Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick as their next head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation. Details were still being worked out on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the decision. (AP Photo/Stew Milne) (Stew Milne/AP)
Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots looks on against the Denver Broncos during their AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 14, 2012, in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Jerod Mayo FILE -New England Patriots inside linebacker coach Jerod Mayo watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. Whether Bill Belichick’s future as the New England Patriots head coach will extend beyond this season remains an open question. But Jerod Mayo, one of the candidates to possibly succeed the legendary coach reiterated on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 that he believes he’s ready for an opportunity to lead an NFL team. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File) (Stew Milne/AP)
Patriots Mayo Football FILE - New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo faces reporters, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at the NFL football team's stadium, in Foxborough, Mass. The New England Patriots have agreed to hire Jerod Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick as their next head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation. Details were still being worked out on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the decision. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (Steven Senne/AP)
Patriots Mayo Football FILE -New England Patriots outside linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) warms up on the field before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct.13, 2013, in Foxborough, Mass. The New England Patriots have agreed to hire Jerod Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick as their next head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation. Details were still being worked out on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the decision. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (Steven Senne/AP)
New England Patriots v Miami Dolphins MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 09: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo talk on the sidelines in the fourth quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) (Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals v New England Patriots FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 29: Josh Uche #53 of the New England Patriots talks with inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Gillette Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 22: New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo looks on before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
New England Patriots v Miami Dolphins MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 09: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo talk on the sidelines in the first quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Washington Commanders v New England Patriots FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 05: Linebackers coach Jerod Mayo looks on during the game against the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium on November 05, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs v New England Patriots FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 17: New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo looks on from the sideline next to head coach Bill Belichik during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
New England Patriots v Arizona Cardinals GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 12: Coach Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 27-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Defensive lineman Davon Godchaux and linebacker Mack Wilson praised Mayo’s abilities after learning he would be replacing Belichick.
“He deserves to be a head coach. He’s a leader. You have to have your guys want to get up and play for you. It’s not easy to do in the NFL when you have other grown men,” Godchaux told the team’s official website. “It’s not easy to get up to play for coaches, especially coaches you don’t respect. I think I’m speaking for everybody when I say everybody respects Coach Mayo.”
Wilson told the website, “He’s just got that alpha male personality about himself, and he’s one of those coaches who knows how to turn it on and off. He’s definitely a players coach...”In today’s society, in today’s world, I feel like when you have coaches that played the game that have the opportunity to become coaches, I feel like it’s easy to win a team [over].”
Mayo isn’t expected to have the same control over personnel matters as Belichick did during most of his tenure in New England.