The Patriots’ rookie head coach will not be back in 2025.
For a second straight offseason, the New England Patriots will be hiring a new head coach. Jerod Mayo, who was promoted to the position last January, has been fired by the organization shortly after concluding a 4-13 season.
“After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025,” said team owner Robert Kraft in a statement. “For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.”
A first-round draft pick by the Patriots in 2008, Mayo appeared in 111 games for the team over the course of eight seasons. Following his retirement, the one-time Super Bowl champion left football before returning as an assistant coach on Bill Belichick’s staff in 2019.
Over the next few seasons, he climbed up the organizational ladder and by 2023 was serving as a de facto co-defensive coordinator alongside Steve Belichick. That year, he also signed a new contract with the team guaranteeing he would succeed the elder Belichick after his eventual departure.
He did so last January. Less than a year later, he is gone again.
“Since buying the team, I have always considered myself and my family as custodians of a public asset,” said Kraft. “We have tremendous fans who expect and deserve a better product than we have delivered in recent years. I apologize for that. I have given much thought and consideration as to what actions I can take to expedite our return to championship contention and determined this move was the best option at this time.”
Robert Kraft’s full statement reads as follows:
“After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community. When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident, as I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach. Winning our season-opener on the road at Cincinnati only strengthened my convictions. Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped.”
“Since buying the team, I have always considered myself and my family as custodians of a public asset. We have tremendous fans who expect and deserve a better product than we have delivered in recent years. I apologize for that. I have given much thought and consideration as to what actions I can take to expedite our return to championship contention and determined this move was the best option at this time.”
“I am grateful for Jerod’s many contributions to the New England Patriots throughout his career and will always be rooting for his success. I appreciate all his hard work and hope the experiences gained will help him in the future, as I still believe he will be a successful head coach in this league. I wish Jerod and his family nothing but success in the future.”