Sunday could be Jerod Mayo’s last game as head coach of the Patriots.
Mayo only lasting one season at the helm in New England was an unlikely hypothetical at the time of his hire. The Patriots forewent a proper coaching search after firing Bill Belichick because Robert Kraft believed so strongly in the former linebacker.
But New England’s 2024 season was so bad that Mayo’s job security is now uncertain. And when tasked with choosing between “safe” or “out” before the Patriots’ season finale, ESPN’s Adam Schefter picked the latter for Mayo.
“All along, the Kraft family has wanted to stand by him and give him support,” Schefter said Sunday on “Sunday NFL Countdown.” “He was the hand-chosen successor to Bill Belichick. But over the last 30 days or so, the team has struggled, they’ve lost at home, fans have been angered, they’ve been apathetic. It feels like within the organization, there’s been a shift. There’s nervous people inside the building right now. We’re gonna go leaning out right now for Jerod Mayo.”
Schefter’s take was in lock-step with a recent observation from Devin McCourty, who attended the Patriots’ penultimate contest. From talking with members of Mayo’s staff, McCourty felt as though no coach at One Patriot Place has been promised another season in New England.
So, we shouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots eventually make their second head-coaching change in as many years.
