FOXBOROUGH, MA — A new chapter in New England Patriots football officially began on Wednesday, as Jerod Mayo addressed the Patriots media for the first time since his announced hiring.
In that introductory presser, Mayo signaled that, if nothing else, the press conferences would be livelier than those under his predecessor. It remains to be seen, of course, if he can match the on-field success.
“It’s been nearly a quarter of a century since we announced a new head coach,” Robert Kraft, or, as Mayo refers to him, “Thunder”, said.
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Mayo is the 15th Patriots head coach in the history of the franchise, and, Kraft said, it was important to him and the leadership team to hire from within.
The new coach is certainly that.
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Mayo played for the Patriots, has been on the coaching staff since 2019 and, in recently revived clips online, was so close to Bill Belichick during his playing days that teammates — including Tom Brady — used to call Jerod Belichick.
His playing days have helped him both connect with players and demand their attention as a teacher.
“His credentials garner respect, and he relates beautifully to the players,” Kraft said.
Mayo left the NFL after his playing days for the business world, rising to an executive position at Optum, where he said he learned a lot about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
“You better believe it, being the first Black head coach in New England means a lot to me,” Mayo said.
He said that to get to a point that many had wondered about the hire. Mayo is a Belichick guy, but would he go outside of the coaching tree for assistants?
Though no decision has been made, Mayo said he wanted to take in unique perspectives.
“I don’t like echo chambers,” Mayo said. “I want people around me that are going to question my ideas or question the way I have done things in the past.”
Mayo is currently working to build out a staff but didn’t share any specifics about the coordinator positions. He did hint that there would be changes, however.
“Obviously the staff that I’ve been working with isn’t the staff that I have chosen, but everything is under evaluation,” Mayo said.
The personnel side of the team is also under development, but Kraft, like Mayo, didn’t share any specifics on the process.
When asked who would have the final say on things like the upcoming draft, Kraft said he was looking for collaboration from those who learned under Belichick.
He noted that the team has a high draft selection and salary cap space, which he believes can position the team well for the future, but, it appears, under the guidance of those already with the team.
Kraft did say that there is at least the thought of interviewing people from the outside, but that his “bias” is to “try to develop a culture from within, where we understand one another.”
The Patriots will stream the video on YouTube, which can be watched below:
Mayo, of course, replaces Bill Belichick after more than two decades of dominance.
Though the two were close in both his playing and coaching days, Mayo said he won’t try to be Bill Belichick.
“Bill is his own man. If you can’t tell by now I’m a little bit different, even up here,” Mayo said.
Mayo was drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2008 draft and spent his entire NFL career in New England, retiring following the 2015 season. He was named captain for seven consecutive seasons (2009-15) and is a 2014 Super Bowl Champion.
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Mayo made the Pro Bowl after the 2012 and 2010 seasons when he led the league in tackles and made the 2010 Associated Press All-Pro First Team. He led the Patriots in total tackles in each of his first five seasons and became just the second Patriots player to win the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
In 2019, Mayo joined the Patriots staff as the inside linebackers coach. The Patriots haven’t named a defensive coordinator in the last few years, with many understanding that Mayo played a major role in the defensive decision making and strategy behind Belichick.
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