When the team fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo this week and replaced him with Mike Vrabel, many would have thought former Patriots great Vince Wilfork was in trouble. .
Wilfork, who has a close relationship with both coaches, won two Super Bowl titles with Vrabel and one with Mayo during his 11 seasons in New England.
All three were teammates with the Patriots during the 2008 season.
In an interview with the Post, Wilfork said he was waiting to hear from Mayo, who was in a “heartbroken” situation due to the mistreatment of Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“I'm giving [Mayo] It's heartbreaking and it takes time, and I understand that,” Wilfork, 43, said on Tuesday. Tamms and DraftKings In New York. “His roots are in Boston, his family, his friendships, everything is there. So I know it's pretty difficult for him right now to think about what's next.
“He's like a brother to me, so I'll give him some time. Then I'll reach out to him and let's talk and break bread and see what's next for him. I don't know what he wants to do now. Probably a slap in the face. I'm sure it's heartbreaking for him. But being a coach is part of the game, and sometimes great people get fired, too. How it happened is the question.”
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Mayo spent his entire eight-season NFL playing career in New England, leading the Patriots to a 4-13 record this season.
The 38-year-old was hand-picked by Kraft to take over a depleted roster after the Patriots and Bill Belichick parted ways last January after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl championships.
“We're talking about the greatest manager of all time, so we felt it was unfair for Jerod Mayo to be in the predicament he is in.” [Bill Belichick] We had the best roster,” Wilfork said, adding that he loved the Kraft family. “And what Mayo did was find a quarterback.” [Drake Maye] for this organization.
“I don't know what happened, but it was terrible and it wasn't that simple and fair. I understand business, but please be fair to him. Is Vrabel the man? No question. I know Vrabel is a hell of a coach, and Vrabel and him. But the fact is what they did against Mayo was unfair…That's part of the business. I think there is a way to do things and this was not the right way for them to handle it here.”
Wilford explained that this is a business after all, and he looks forward to seeing what Vrabel can do to turn things around in Foxboro.
“You have to be able to separate that,” said Wilford, who will be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2022, a year before Vrabel's induction. “We played together and won a lot of football games together. I have nothing against Vrabel. He's a great coach and I'm glad New England actually got him.” … I know what he’s going to bring, believe me.”
Kraft and the Patriots introduced Vrabel on Monday as the franchise's 16th head coach.
The Patriots earned the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after a 23-16 win over the Bills in the final game of the season, knocking New England out of the No. 1 pick.
