Starting Friday, Mayo and the Krafts began to address the reorganization of the Patriots' coaching staff and front office in the post-Bill Belichick era. Mayo has already rolled up his sleeves, reportedly setting up interviews to find his first defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. But his hardest work, the decisions that will set into motion a successful Mayo era or a failed succession plan, are coming fast.
Robert Kraft told the world that the Patriots would be deciding on their next head coach in a matter of days, and there was only one person they could hire without going through the traditional, timely interviewing process. The Patriots hired Jerod Mayo as their new head coach on Friday morning, a source told the Herald. Mayo, who previously served as the Patriots' linebackers coach, had a clause in his contract with an agreement that he would be Bill Belichick's successor, according to a source. The Patriots and Belichick announced they were mutually parting ways on Thursday. The clause allowed the Patriots to hire Mayo without conducting a full head-coaching search under the NFL's Rooney Rule, according to the NFL's anti-tampering policy. Now that Mayo is on board, what are the next steps?
There is no secret to what happened to the 2023 Patriots. This was a bad team undone by poor roster construction, some internal dysfunction and downright terrible quarterback play. Bailey Zappe saved his worst for last in Sunday's snowy season finale, a loss that spotlighted all of the Patriots' shortcomings.