The Patriots had a succession plan.
New England linebackers coach Jerrod Mayo has been hired as the team's next coach and is expected to start next week. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Patriots selected the former Patriots linebacker over recently fired Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
New England wasted no time in finding Belichick's replacement, hiring Mayo the day after parting ways with Belichick after a historic 24-year tenure.
Mayo, a former Patriots linebacker, was projected as a possible replacement for Belichick.
The Patriots had a “robust contractual succession plan in place under Mayo's previous contract” to have Mayo succeed Belichick as the next head coach. According to NFL.com.
The details of this deal allowed them to move quickly to hire a new coach for the first time since 2000.
Mayo, 37, has a long association with the franchise.
He was the 10th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and won a Super Bowl title with the team from 2008 to 2015.
Mayo was named team captain in his second season, and some of the players referred to him as Bill Jr., as they saw him as a future coach. Per ESPN.
After his playing career ended, Mayo worked at Optum in the financial world and joined Belichick's staff in 2019 as linebackers coach.
The Patriots likely abandoned their plans last offseason. Mayo signs extension The goal is to keep him with the franchise long-term.
Team owner Robert Kraft even called Mayo a “possible successor” before the season.
“Yes, he's definitely a strong candidate to take over, but we have other talented people in our system,” Kraft told NFL Network in March.
Mayo is clearly a strong candidate and will now help the Patriots bounce back from their worst season in the Belichick era (4-13).
It helps that the Patriots have the No. 3 pick in a quarterback-heavy draft, but the team is reportedly looking for a general manager now that Belichick has taken over the job.
Mayo became the NFL's youngest head coach, surpassing the Rams' Sean McVay, and said in December that he has his sights set on one day leading a franchise.
His first chance will come with the only professional team he's ever known.
“As you all know, one day I hope to be a head coach,” Mayo said. According to CBS News Boston. “I don't know where that is. But at the same time, I can also say that I have a lot of love for New England. I have a lot of love for the fans and the people around the building.” My family loves it here too. So it would be great if I could stay here and continue to progress throughout my career, but we'll see.”
