AP source says Patriots have hired Jerrod Mayo as Bill Belichick’s successor

Foxborough, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots have agreed to hire jerod mayo Will succeed Bill Belichick as the team’s first Black head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Details were still being worked out Friday, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the decision. Mayo played eight NFL seasons and won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots during the 2014 season.

Mayo’s appointment comes a day after Belichick’s agreed to separate After a 24-year tenure with the Patriots that included six Super Bowl victories.

Mayo immediately rose to the top of the list of viable Belichick successors after the Patriots took the unique step of signing the assistant to a long-term extension last season. Mayo, along with Belichick’s son and fellow linebackers coach Steve Belichick, handled play calling duties for the Patriots defense the past two seasons.

Despite New England’s 4–13 record this season, including losing top linebacker Matt Judon and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez to season-ending injuries, the team’s defense continues to rank highly in several categories.

While it’s unclear what the terms of Mayo’s deal were before last season, it came after the 37-year-old interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs in Philadelphia and Carolina over the past two years.

In announcing his decision to part ways with Belichick on Thursday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft promised to move quickly in trying to fill the void.

Kraft said the mandate for the next coach will be a return to the postseason for a Patriots team that has missed the playoffs in three of the last four seasons and has not won a playoff game since the 2018 season.

“We’re looking for someone who can help us get back to the playoffs and win,” Kraft said. “Believe me, after my family, this is really one of the two most important assets in my life. I feel very disappointed when we don’t win the game. This goes on all week. So, I promise you that I will focus on doing my best to ensure that we put ourselves in the best long-term position to win for many years.

It is not expected that Mayo will have the same control over personnel matters that Belichick had for most of his tenure with the Patriots. In addition to being the coach, Belichick also served as New England’s de facto general manager.

But Kraft explained Thursday that Belichick did not receive that power until after winning his third Super Bowl with the team after the 2004 season and that Belichick “earned it and it worked out pretty well most of the time.”

That means the hiring of a new general manager, or some other restructuring of the front office, is likely next in Kraft’s plans.

“I think it’s good to have checks and balances,” Craft said.

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Maddi reported from Tampa, Florida.

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